pseudopregnancy

noun

pseu·​do·​preg·​nan·​cy ˌsü-dō-ˈpreg-nən(t)-sē 

1

: pseudocyesis

2

: an anestrous state resembling pregnancy that occurs in various mammals usually after an infertile copulation

pseudopregnant

ˌsü-dō-ˈpreg-nənt 

adjective

Examples of pseudopregnancy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, headquartered in Front Royal, Virginia, became a leader in giant panda estrus, breeding, pregnancy, pseudopregnancy and cub development. — Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2020

The panda had been experiencing a pseudopregnancy — where a panda has behavioral and hormonal reactions that mimic an actual pregnancy — over the past several months, officials said. — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019

The National Zoo should know by the end of August whether panda Mei Xiang is experiencing pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 7 Aug. 2019

Some species, however, go through a strange phase called a pseudopregnancy, which looks just like a real pregnancy except there is no fetus. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pseudopregnancy

• pregnancy

Medical Definition

pseudopregnancy

noun

pseu·​do·​preg·​nan·​cy ˌsüd-ō-ˈpreg-nən-sē 

plural pseudopregnancies

: a condition which resembles pregnancy: as

a

: pseudocyesis

b

: an anestrous state resembling pregnancy that occurs in various mammals usually after an infertile copulation

pseudopregnant

-nənt 

adjective