What does multiparous mean?
Multiparous is an adjective chiefly used in obstetrics and biology to describe a person who has given birth to more than one child, a pregnancy involving multiple fetuses, or an animal that produces several offspring at one birth. The word is technical rather than conversational, and its precise meaning depends on context: in a clinical setting, it can refer to a patient's childbirth history or to a multiple gestation. Outside medicine, its zoological sense describes an organism that bears multiple offspring together, often in a litter. The term is related to the Latin elements for “many” and “give birth,” making it especially useful when precision about reproductive history or reproductive biology matters. Its specialized vocabulary also distinguishes it from the more general words “pregnant” and “multiple,” which do not by themselves convey the same obstetric information.
adjectiveHaving given birth to more than one child; in biological contexts, producing more than one offspring at a birth.
- Having given birth to more than one child.
- Producing more than one offspring at a birth.
- Denoting a pregnancy involving more than one fetus.
"The obstetrician discussed the risks associated with a multiparous pregnancy."
"Her first pregnancy was difficult, but as a multiparous patient she was monitored closely."
"The species is multiparous, producing several young in a single litter."
In obstetrics, being multiparous can mean both having borne more than one child and carrying a multiple pregnancy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does multiparous come from?
The word was formed from Latin multus, meaning “many,” and parere, meaning “to give birth.” English adopted it through Neo-Latin to describe giving birth more than once and later extended it to multiple pregnancies and to animals producing several offspring at a birth. Its relatives include multiparity, parity, and parturient, all associated with childbirth and the Latin root parere.
Related word forms
How multiparous is actually used
This is chiefly a technical term used in obstetrics, medicine, zoology, and biology. In medical usage it may refer either to a person who has given birth more than once or to a multiple pregnancy, so context determines the intended sense.