pregnancy

preg·nan·cy | \ ˈpreg-nən(t)-sē

How to pronounce pregnancy (audio)

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plural pregnancies

Definition of pregnancy

1 : the quality of being pregnant (as in meaning)

2 : the condition of being pregnant : gestation

3 : an instance of being pregnant

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about pregnancy

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Examples of pregnancy in a Sentence

an elephant's pregnancy can last almost a year

Recent Examples on the Web Fresh off his top-tier finish in Iowa, Buttigieg was asked by McCain to justify his support for late-term abortions, which are procedures that take place in the final trimester of a pregnancy. — Madison Dibble, Washington Examiner, "‘Just as radical as I thought’: Meghan McCain confronts Buttigieg over late-term abortion stance," 6 Feb. 2020 Here's what to know Under the D & E procedure, generally used after the 14th week of pregnancy, the fetus is removed with instruments. — Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky abortion law ruled 'unconstitutional' is back in federal court," 29 Jan. 2020 Beyond the physiology of pregnancy, expectant women also have to navigate a healthcare and hospital system that wasn’t designed specifically for them. — Fortune, "The coronavirus problem could be solved by design thinking," 28 Jan. 2020 He was also sentenced to 48 years for the unlawful termination of pregnancy, NBC News reported. — Tierney Mcafee, Country Living, "The Horrific True Story Behind Chris Watts and the Gruesome Murders of His Family," 25 Jan. 2020 The much bigger prize is the Australian Open, where Williams triumphed while in the early stages of pregnancy in 2017. — Ravi Ubha, CNN, "After ending her losing streak in finals, is Serena Williams on course to win the Australian Open?," 19 Jan. 2020 Alex Ronan investigates what happened to Weaver, the campus response to rumors and confirmation of Weaver’s pregnancy, and how her community reckoned with questions of blame and responsibility before and after the baby’s discovery. — Longreads, "The Top 5 Longreads of the Week," 17 Jan. 2020 Women’s Health Services, which has been providing help for almost 28 years, charges $700 for abortions in the first trimester (up to 13 weeks of pregnancy). — Stephanie Ebbert, BostonGlobe.com, "The state’s third busiest abortion clinic could close soon without financial support," 6 Jan. 2020 The announcement comes as a shock, as Diaz had not previously announced any type of pregnancy. — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, "Surprise! Cameron Diaz & Benji Madden Just Welcomed Their First Child," 6 Jan. 2020

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

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Last Updated

9 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Pregnancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pregnancy. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for pregnancy

pregnancy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pregnancy

: the condition of a woman or female animal that is going to have a baby or babies : the condition of a pregnant woman or female animal

See the full definition for pregnancy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pregnancy

preg·nan·cy | \ ˈpreg-nən-sē

\

plural pregnancies

Kids Definition of pregnancy

: the state of being pregnant

pregnancy

preg·nan·cy | \ ˈpreg-nən-sē

\

plural pregnancies

Medical Definition of pregnancy

1 : the condition of being pregnant

2 : an instance of being pregnant

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