child-bearing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Medical, Sociological, Demographic
Quick answer
What does “child-bearing” mean?
The act or process of giving birth to children.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of giving birth to children.
The period of life during which a person is biologically capable of reproduction and giving birth; can also refer to the social role or function of producing offspring.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The hyphenated form 'child-bearing' is standard in both, but 'childbearing' as a single word is equally accepted. No significant spelling or usage divergence.
Connotations
Neutral demographic/medical term in both. Possibly more frequent in UK in policy/health contexts (e.g., NHS literature).
Frequency
Low-frequency academic/technical term in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “child-bearing” in a Sentence
[NOUN] + child-bearing + [NOUN] (e.g., child-bearing age)[PREP] + child-bearing (e.g., during child-bearing)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “child-bearing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form; use 'to bear children']
American English
- [No verb form; use 'to give birth']
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- She is of child-bearing age.
- The study focused on child-bearing women.
American English
- Her childbearing years were behind her.
- Access to healthcare during childbearing is crucial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in HR/policy regarding parental leave.
Academic
Common in sociology, demography, medical anthropology, and public health studies.
Everyday
Used in discussions about family planning, age, and health.
Technical
Standard in obstetrics, gynecology, and population statistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “child-bearing”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “child-bearing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “child-bearing”
- Misspelling as 'childbearing' (acceptable) or 'child bearing' (less standard).
- Confusing with 'child-rearing' (raising children).
- Using as a verb (e.g., 'She child-bore' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both the hyphenated form 'child-bearing' and the single word 'childbearing' are correct and widely accepted.
'Child-bearing' refers to the process of pregnancy and giving birth. 'Child-rearing' refers to the process of raising and educating children after they are born.
Typically, no. The term is biologically specific to the person who carries and gives birth to a child. For men in the context of reproduction, terms like 'fatherhood' or 'procreation' are used.
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, medical, demographic, and academic contexts. In everyday conversation, people more often say 'having children' or 'giving birth'.
The act or process of giving birth to children.
Child-bearing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldˌbeər.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldˌber.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly associated; it is a compound term itself]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BEARing a CHILD. 'Bearing' means carrying, so 'child-bearing' is the act of carrying and then delivering a child.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHILDBEARING IS A BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION / CHILDBEARING IS A SOCIAL ROLE.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is closest in meaning to 'child-bearing'?