What does childbirth mean?
Childbirth is a noun referring to the act or process by which a woman or female animal gives birth to offspring — the moment at which a baby leaves the mother's body and begins life outside the womb. It is a neutral term that sits comfortably in both clinical and everyday language: doctors speak of complications during childbirth, while parents may describe planning a natural childbirth or attending childbirth classes. The word carries connotations ranging from joy and new beginnings to danger and hardship, as reflected in long-standing expressions like "died in childbirth," a reminder of how risky delivery was before modern obstetric medicine. Related terms include labour (the process of contractions preceding birth) and parturition (a more technical synonym). Childbirth is uncountable in most uses and is one of the oldest compounds in the English language, formed from two of its most fundamental words, "child" and "birth."
nounThe act or process of giving birth to a child; the bringing forth of offspring from the womb.
- The act or process of giving birth to a baby.
"After many hours of labour, the childbirth finally began to progress and the midwife called for the doctor."
"Complications during childbirth were far more dangerous before modern obstetric care."
"She wrote a memoir about her decision to have a natural childbirth at home."
Rarely pluralized; the word is usually treated as uncountable since it refers to an event or process. A plural form does exist but is uncommon, typically appearing in medical or statistical contexts.
"The hospital recorded over three thousand childbirths last year."
The compound "childbirth" is so old that its parts were already joined when English was still being written down — it appears in texts over a thousand years old.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of childbirth
Childbirth is a compound of two native Old English words: "cild" (child) and "gebyrd" (birth), making it a genuinely Germanic formation rather than a borrowing from Latin or French. Compounds meaning childbirth existed in Old English, and the modern form has been in continuous use since the Middle English period. It shares its roots with words built on the same Germanic elements, such as birthright and birthday.
How childbirth is actually used
A formal-to-neutral term used in both medical and everyday contexts. In American English, the spelling "labor" is standard for the associated process of labour, while British English uses "labour". Often used in set phrases such as "died in childbirth".
Easily confused with childbirth
"Childbrith" is simply a misspelling of childbirth, not a distinct word.