What does pregnant mean?
Pregnant means carrying a developing child or fetus in the body, and it is the usual general term for a person who is expecting a baby. The same adjective has a long-established figurative use for something full of latent meaning, possibility, or creative energy: a phrase can be described as pregnant with ideas, while a silence may be pregnant with tension. In ordinary speech, the word can sound medical or factual, whereas “expecting” is often gentler and more conversational. Its figurative sense depends on the idea of something present but not yet fully expressed, which makes it especially useful in writing about literature, politics, art, and unresolved questions.
adjectiveCarrying a developing child or fetus in the body; expecting a baby. In figurative use, full of significance, possibility, or creative potential.
- Carrying a developing child or fetus in the body; expecting a baby.
- Figuratively, full of something significant, latent, or about to emerge, as in “an idea pregnant with possibilities.”
"The pregnant doctor was expected back at work shortly after the birth of her daughter."
"She is pregnant with her second child."
"The proposal was pregnant with the possibility of a major new partnership."
Pregnant can describe a body carrying new life—and ideas, possibilities, or significance waiting to emerge.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pregnant come from?
The word comes through Old French pregnant from Latin praegnant-, the present participle of praegnare, “to be pregnant with.” English has used the word since the Middle English period. Its figurative sense developed from the literal idea of carrying something that will later be brought forth, and related forms such as pregnancy and impregnate belong to the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How pregnant is actually used
The word is most commonly used for people, but it can also be applied to animals. Its figurative use is established and often suggests latent significance or creative potential. In some contexts, “expecting” may sound warmer or less clinical.
Easily confused with pregnant
“Pregnant” describes a person or other organism carrying developing offspring, whereas “pregnancy” names the condition or period of being pregnant.