What does maternity mean?
Maternity means the condition of being pregnant or becoming a mother, as well as the care and support associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and the early period of raising a newborn. In everyday use, it often appears in expressions such as maternity leave, maternity hospital, and maternity care. The word has a practical as well as personal dimension: it can refer to an individual woman’s experience, or to the services and policies designed to support mothers and infants. Maternity is generally neutral and widely used in British and American English, while related terms such as motherhood emphasize the broader experience of raising and caring for a child. Together, these meanings make maternity useful wherever the biological, emotional, medical, or social aspects of becoming and being a mother are relevant.
nounThe state of being a mother, especially during pregnancy and the period around childbirth. It can also refer to the provision of care and support for mothers and their babies.
- The condition of being pregnant or the period of pregnancy, especially when considered in relation to childbirth.
- The state or experience of being a mother.
- The medical and social care provided to mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
"The clinic specializes in maternity care and provides support for expectant mothers."
"Her maternity leave allowed her to stay at home with her daughter during the first months."
"The hospital expanded its maternity services to include prenatal classes and specialist neonatal care."
"The policy provides six months of paid maternity leave for all eligible employees."
The plural is standard but relatively uncommon; in most contexts, the uncountable singular is preferred.
"The program supports families through different maternities and changing family needs."
Maternity captures the entire transition into motherhood, from pregnancy and birth to the first days of caring for a newborn.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maternity come from?
Maternity comes from the Latin maternitas, a noun formed from mater, meaning “mother.” The Latin word was inherited into English through Old French, where it developed into the modern English form maternity. Its cognates include maternal, from the same Latin root, while matrimony comes from the related Latin word matrimonium, meaning “marriage” or “a marriage contract.”
Related word forms
How maternity is actually used
In British and American English, maternity usually focuses on the mother and the process of pregnancy or childbirth. Maternity leave and maternity care are especially common institutional and medical expressions. The related adjective maternal is often used to describe affection, support, or qualities associated with motherhood.
Easily confused with maternity
Maternity refers to motherhood and the experience of being or becoming a mother, whereas paternity refers to fatherhood and the experience of being or becoming a father.