maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtər-nᵊl How to pronounce maternal (audio)
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
maternally adverb

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 Likewise, the maternal mortality rate has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Natasha Pearlman, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2024 Doctors also predict a sharp rise in maternal and infant deaths, as thousands of women will be compelled to give birth at home in the coming weeks. Frances Robles, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Anesthesia was also first used for childbirth in 1845, at a time when maternal death was far too common; in general, for every thousand babies born during the 19th century, as many as ten mothers died. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Campesina Womb Justice — a mutual aid project advocating for maternal and infant rights for farmworkers. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 From within the maternal mortality crisis to diagnoses related to cardiovascular disease and cancer, Black families need to be aware of medical discrimination and protect themselves against it. Pamela Appea, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 The French constitutional amendment has been hailed by women’s rights advocates around the world, including places where women struggle to access birth control or maternal health care. Angela Charlton and Jade Le Deley, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 As a result of Israel’s partial blockade, the life expectancy for Palestinians in Gaza was already a decade shorter than in Israel, with rates of neonatal, infant and maternal mortality more than three times higher, according to the World Bank. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 Bombing also cuts off pregnant people from necessary care, which the researchers project would cause 100 to 330 maternal and neonatal deaths, depending on the scale of conflict. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maternal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French maternel, from Medieval Latin maternalis, from Latin maternus, from mater mother — more at mother

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maternal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near maternal

Cite this Entry

“Maternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

maternal

adjective
ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl How to pronounce maternal (audio)
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
maternally adverb
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 How to pronounce maternal (audio)
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
maternally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on maternal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!