maternity

noun

mə-ˈtər-nə-tē How to pronounce maternity (audio)
Definition of maternitynext
as in fruitfulness
motherly character or qualities she had such maternity at such a young age that all her classmates went to her for comfort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of maternity The closure of rural hospitals has a major impact on the availability of maternity care. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026 The actress, who is expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman, has been embracing maternity fashion. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Lyst data suggested that searches for maternity clothes have dropped by as much as 45%. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore make a sweet family theme, and Pooh's round silhouette can also be a fun maternity option. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maternity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maternity
  1. fertility
  2. productivity
Noun
  • For years, Japan has taken steps to try to reverse its falling birth rate by expanding monthly child allowances, bringing IVF and other fertility treatments under the purview of public insurance, and expanding parental leave benefits.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Isaiah explains that sharing their pregnancy losses and fertility struggles publicly felt like their purpose.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fertility
Noun
  • The flood of investment into artificial intelligence is projected to eventually increase productivity.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Both write-ups note that these machines deliver great performance on productivity tasks.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of productivity

Browse Nearby Words

maternal
maternity
maters
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Cite this Entry

“Maternity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maternity. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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