prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl 

1

: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth

prenatal care

a prenatal test

prenatal vitamins

2

: providing or receiving prenatal medical care

a prenatal clinic

prenatal patients

prenatally

(ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of prenatal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Victoria Gioia, who cofounded the stage-specific prenatal vitamin line Perelel, agreed. — Faye Brookman, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026

No one blinks at a pregnant Sarah constantly running through hails of gunfire — sans prenatal vitamins or a home. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Nordic Naturals makes a prenatal supplement with 450 milligrams of DHA. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026

Environmental factors — including prenatal exposure to pollution, the age of the father, and maternal health — can also play a role. — Amanda Seitz, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prenatal

• nonfatal
• postnatal
• antenatal
• hiatal
• neonatal
• perinatal
• datal
• fatal

Kids Definition

prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˈ)prē-ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: occurring or existing before birth

prenatal care

prenatal development

Medical Definition

prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal -ˈnāt-ᵊl 

1

: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth

prenatal care

the prenatal period

prenatal testing

prenatal vitamins

2

: providing or receiving prenatal medical care

a prenatal clinic

a prenatal patient

called also antenatal

compare intranatal, neonatal, postnatal

prenatally

-ē 

adverb