maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtər-nᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother : motherly
maternal love
maternal instincts
2
a
: related through a mother
his maternal aunt
b
: inherited or derived from the female parent
maternal genes
Examples of maternal in a Sentence
Doctors are concerned about the effects of the drug on maternal health.
her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
The priorities are maternal and child health and controlling the cholera outbreak.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Abide Women’s Health Services will offer pregnancy testing, prenatal and postpartum care, and maternal resources at the Center for Transforming Lives campus.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Her maternal grandmother, Mae Eudora Jones, was a devout Christian Scientist from Belleville, Arkansas, who’d been married five times by the age of fifty.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
As a maternal cancer, cozy fall hobbies like cooking, baking, and hosting dinner parties are likely already well-established in their repertoire.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Abide Women’s Health Services will offer pregnancy testing, prenatal and postpartum care, and maternal resources at the Center for Transforming Lives campus.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Her maternal grandmother, Mae Eudora Jones, was a devout Christian Scientist from Belleville, Arkansas, who’d been married five times by the age of fifty.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
As a maternal cancer, cozy fall hobbies like cooking, baking, and hosting dinner parties are likely already well-established in their repertoire.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
Cite this Entry
“Maternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternal. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a mother : motherly
2
a
: related through a mother
maternal grandparents
b
: obtained or received from a female parent
maternal chromosomes
Etymology
Middle English maternal "maternal, of or like a mother," from early French maternel (same meaning), from Latin maternus "maternal," from mater "mother" — related to alma mater
Medical Definition
maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother
maternal instinct
2
a
: related through a mother
his maternal aunt
b
: inherited or derived from the female parent
maternal genes
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share