maternity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “maternity” mean?
The state or experience of being a mother.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state or experience of being a mother; motherhood.
Related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the period following birth, often in institutional contexts such as maternity leave, maternity care, or maternity clothing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage; terms like 'maternity leave' are common in both varieties.
Connotations
Similar in both, associated with motherhood, care, and sometimes bureaucratic or medical contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “maternity” in a Sentence
attributive use (e.g., maternity leave)prepositional use (e.g., on maternity)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “maternity” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She chose a maternity dress for the wedding.
American English
- She ordered maternity jeans online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to employee benefits such as maternity leave, insurance, and workplace policies for expecting mothers.
Academic
Used in research on motherhood, gender studies, sociology, and healthcare policies related to childbirth.
Everyday
Common in conversations about pregnancy, family planning, work-life balance, and personal experiences.
Technical
In medical contexts, refers to maternity care, obstetrics, perinatal services, and hospital wards.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “maternity”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “maternity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maternity”
- Using 'maternity' as a verb (e.g., 'She is maternitying').
- Misspelling as 'maternety' or 'maternaty'.
- Confusing with 'paternity' in legal or social contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Maternity refers to motherhood or aspects related to mothers, while paternity refers to fatherhood or aspects related to fathers.
No, 'maternity' is a noun and is not used as a verb. The verb form related to giving birth is 'to give birth' or 'to deliver'.
Maternity leave is a period of absence from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child, often paid or unpaid depending on the employer and country.
No, 'maternity' is used similarly in both British and American English, with common terms like 'maternity leave' and 'maternity ward'.
The state or experience of being a mother.
Maternity is usually formal to neutral in register.
Maternity: in British English it is pronounced /məˈtɜːnəti/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈtɜrnəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on maternity leave”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'maternity' as 'mother' + 'ity' – it directly relates to motherhood.
Conceptual Metaphor
Motherhood as a foundational state of nurturing, creation, and care.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'maternity'?