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

Communities have seen moms start prenatal care earlier and stick with it. — Mona Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Because ectopic pregnancies usually cause complications before standard prenatal care begins around 10 weeks, patients often rely on emergency departments, where doctors don’t typically have specialized training in pregnancy care. — Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026

Vannoy said Ryan was on her way to her final prenatal appointment when the fatal crash occurred. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Provide prenatal diagnostics, TeleNICU access, neonatal education, standardized care pathways, bridge-to-home services, and rural newborn care coordination. — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 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