What does surrogation mean?
Surrogation is the practice of becoming pregnant and carrying a child with the intention of giving birth to and surrendering that child for adoption to another person or couple. It is commonly discussed in legal, medical, ethical, and personal contexts, including cases involving intended parents who cannot conceive, carry a pregnancy, or have a child. The term can refer either to the wider practice or to a particular arrangement, usually described through a surrogacy agreement. Surrogation is distinct from adoption because the person who carries the pregnancy may also be the child's legal or biological parent for part of the process, depending on the jurisdiction. Laws governing consent, parentage, payment, and parental rights differ substantially around the world, so the practical meaning and consequences of an arrangement depend on where it takes place.
nounSurrogation is the practice or process of becoming pregnant and carrying a child with the intention of giving birth to and surrendering the child for adoption to another person or couple.
- The practice or process of becoming pregnant and carrying a child for another person or couple, with the intention of giving birth to and surrendering the child for adoption.
- An instance or arrangement of this practice.
"The couple chose surrogation after facing difficulties conceiving and carrying a child themselves."
"Surrogation provided her with the opportunity to become a parent."
"The agreement governing their surrogation established the intended parents' parental rights."
Usually treated as a mass or abstract noun; the plural form is uncommon.
"The ethical questions surrounding surrogations have prompted continued legal debate."
Surrogation allows people to become parents through an arrangement in which pregnancy and adoption are legally and practically separate from the intended parents' biology.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does surrogation come from?
The word is formed within the Latin-derived vocabulary surrounding surrogate and ultimately relates to Latin surrogare, meaning to substitute or put in place of another. The suffix -ation expresses an action or process. English has long used surrogate for a substitute person or thing, while surrogation developed as a term for the practice of substituting another person to carry a pregnancy.
How surrogation is actually used
The term is used in legal, medical, ethical, and personal contexts. Its meaning and legal treatment can vary considerably between countries and jurisdictions.
Easily confused with surrogation
Surrogation is the practice or arrangement, whereas a surrogate is the person who carries the pregnancy.