: a political and social movement that advocates for increasing the birth rate especially by encouraging married couples to have multiple children and to embrace traditional childcare roles : pronatalism
Natalism is often about more than raising birth rates …, the ultimate goal is a total social overhaul, a culture in which child-rearing is paramount.Gaby Del Valle
She [Miranda Brady] said political discourse … combined with social media "trad-wives" … led to a new era of natalism in which some populations are encouraged to go forth and multiply—with the role of "mother" treated as a moral imperative.Nicole Thompson
natalist noun
plural natalists
Natalists may offer financial assistance for parents that increases based on the number of children they have, encouraging parents to continue to have children. Tyler Biscontini
natalist adjective
These cuts come amid the … rise of natalist policies that encourage women to have more children. Rachel Curry

Word History

Etymology

probably extracted from antinatalism and pronatalism

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of natalism was in 1965

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Natalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natalism. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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