gravida: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “gravida” mean?
A pregnant woman.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pregnant woman.
A medical term used to specify the number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancies (e.g., gravida 2). It is a crucial part of obstetric history.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use; identical in both medical communities.
Connotations
Purely clinical and neutral. Carries no positive or negative connotations outside of its technical definition.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of obstetrics, gynaecology, and midwifery in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “gravida” in a Sentence
Gravida [number]A [number]-gravidaVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological sciences, specifically in obstetrics textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Pregnant' or 'expecting' are the universal terms.
Technical
The primary context. Used in patient notes, medical histories, and clinical discussions to convey precise obstetric history efficiently.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gravida”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gravida”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gravida”
- Using it in everyday conversation.
- Pronouncing it /ɡrəˈvaɪdə/ (like 'grave').
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'She is gravida'). It is a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised medical term. The common word is 'pregnant'.
'Gravida' (G) counts the number of pregnancies. 'Para' (P) counts the number of births reaching a viable gestational age (usually 24 weeks), regardless of the number of babies born in each pregnancy or whether the baby was born alive.
No, in modern medical English it is used as a noun (e.g., 'She is a gravida 2'). The related adjective is 'gravid', used in biology/zoology (e.g., a gravid female).
It is a compound term from Latin meaning 'first pregnant [woman]' – a woman who is pregnant for the first time.
A pregnant woman.
Gravida is usually technical/medical in register.
Gravida: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡravɪdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrævɪdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'gravity' pulling a baby down, or 'grave' as in serious/important condition. 'Gravida' is a woman in the serious/important state of pregnancy.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREGNANCY IS A MEDICAL CATEGORY / PREGNANCY IS A NUMBERED STATE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'gravida'?