maternity leave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal, legal, administrative, workplace
Quick answer
What does “maternity leave” mean?
A period of paid or unpaid leave from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of paid or unpaid leave from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child.
A legally protected employment right allowing parents (typically mothers) to take time off work for childbirth and early childcare, with job security maintained.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'maternity leave' is a specific statutory right with set periods (Ordinary and Additional). In the US, there is no federal paid maternity leave; the term often refers to unpaid leave under the FMLA or employer-provided benefits.
Connotations
UK: A standard, expected employment right. US: Often connotes a benefit or privilege, not a universal guarantee, with significant variation.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties in relevant contexts (HR, law, media). Slightly higher in UK discourse due to more standardized national policy.
Grammar
How to Use “maternity leave” in a Sentence
[Subject] take(s) maternity leave[Subject] is/are on maternity leave[Subject] return(s) from maternity leave[Subject] be entitled to maternity leaveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “maternity leave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She plans to maternity-leave in June.
- The policy allows staff to maternity-leave for up to 52 weeks.
American English
- She will maternity-leave starting next month.
- Employees can maternity-leave under our family policy.
adverb
British English
- She is currently off work maternity-leave.
- He managed the team maternity-leave.
American English
- She's out maternity-leave until fall.
- The project was handled maternity-leave.
adjective
British English
- She submitted her maternity-leave form.
- We need a maternity-leave cover temp.
American English
- Her maternity-leave benefits are generous.
- We're reviewing the maternity-leave policy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
HR will process your maternity leave application and discuss your cover arrangements.
Academic
The study examines the impact of extended maternity leave policies on female workforce participation.
Everyday
My sister is on maternity leave until the autumn.
Technical
The claimant's statutory maternity pay period commences 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “maternity leave”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “maternity leave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maternity leave”
- Using 'maternal leave' (less common).
- Confusing 'maternity leave' (for mother) with 'paternity leave' (for father).
- Misspelling as 'maternety leave' or 'maternaty leave'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the country and employer. In the UK, statutory maternity pay is provided. In the US, federal law does not require paid leave, though some states and companies offer it.
Typically, no. Leave specifically for fathers is called 'paternity leave'. However, some parental leave schemes allow parents to share what was traditionally maternity leave.
The length varies greatly. In the UK, it can be up to 52 weeks. In the US, the FMLA provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Yes, there is usually a legal requirement to notify your employer by a certain deadline (e.g., 15 weeks before the due date in the UK) and may require providing proof of pregnancy.
A period of paid or unpaid leave from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child.
Maternity leave is usually formal, legal, administrative, workplace in register.
Maternity leave: in British English it is pronounced /məˈtɜːnɪti liːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈtɜːrnɪti liːv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “She's out on maternity”
- “On baby leave”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MATERNITY (motherhood) + LEAVE (time off) = time off work for motherhood.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK IS A JOURNEY (taking leave is a temporary exit from the path)
Practice
Quiz
In a UK context, what is 'Additional Maternity Leave'?