What does neonatology mean?
Neonatology is the medical specialty devoted to newborn infants, with particular emphasis on babies who are born prematurely, are seriously ill, or face developmental risks. The field includes intensive care, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term monitoring of newborns, often in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. A neonatologist is a physician who specializes in this area. The term is closely related to but narrower than pediatrics, which addresses the healthcare of children across a much wider age range. Neonatology is especially associated with advances in caring for very small and premature babies, whose breathing, feeding, temperature regulation, and development require highly specialized support. The word combines elements meaning “new” and “study” or “science,” reflecting the focus on the earliest stage of life.
nounThe branch of medicine concerned with the care of newborn infants, especially those who are premature, ill, or at risk.
- The branch of medicine concerned with newborn infants, especially premature, ill, or at-risk newborns.
"She specialized in neonatology and cared for critically ill premature babies."
"The hospital's neonatology department uses specialized equipment to monitor premature infants."
"Her research in neonatology has focused on improving survival rates for extremely premature babies."
Rare; the field is normally treated as a mass noun and appears in the singular.
"The study compared approaches used in neonatologies around the world."
Neonatology is where modern medicine begins life: it specializes in the vulnerable first days and weeks of a baby's development.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does neonatology come from?
Neonatology was formed in the 20th century from the combining form neo-, meaning “new,” and -logy, meaning “study” or “science,” with terminology influenced by the Greek roots néos, “new,” and lógos, “study” or “account.” The related word neonatal refers to newborn infants, while a neonatologist is a physician specializing in their care. The term developed alongside the growth of hospital neonatal intensive care and modern medicine's increasing ability to treat premature and critically ill newborns.
Related word forms
How neonatology is actually used
A formal medical term, usually used in clinical, academic, or healthcare contexts. It is more specific than pediatrics and is not normally used for the care of older infants or children.
Easily confused with neonatology
Pediatrics covers the medical care of children generally, whereas neonatology focuses specifically on newborn infants, particularly premature or critically ill newborns.