parturition

noun par·tu·ri·tion \ ˌpär-chə-ˈri-shən , ˌpär-tyu̇- , ˌpär-tə- \

|Updated on: 22 May 2018

Examples: parturition in a Sentence

: the action or process of giving birth to offspring : childbirth

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Examples of parturition in a Sentence

parturition can sometimes proceed more quickly than anticipated

Recent Examples of parturition from the Web

Their physical needs were considered to be concerned only with conception and parturition.

— Longreads, "The Roaring Girls of Queer London," 8 May 2018
The modesty costumes worn by the women of Gilead are derived from Western religious iconography — the Wives wear the blue of purity, from the Virgin Mary; the Handmaids wear red, from the blood of parturition, but also from Mary Magdalene.

— margaret atwood, New York Times, "Margaret Atwood on What ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Means in the Age of Trump," 10 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parturition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of parturition

borrowed from Medieval Latin parturītiōn-, parturītiō "act of giving birth" (Late Latin, "bringing forth, travail"), from Latin parturīre "to be in labor, be ready to give birth" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at parturient

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First Known Use: 1646

in the meaning defined above

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