midwife: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral, formal in medical contexts, figurative in literary/academic contexts
Quick answer
What does “midwife” mean?
A person, typically a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, typically a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth.
A person or thing that assists in the development, creation, or introduction of something new.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. In the UK, midwives are a more established and independent part of the primary maternity care system. In the US, the role may be perceived as more alternative or complementary to obstetricians, though it is a certified profession.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with the NHS and standard maternity care. US: May carry connotations of natural or home birth, though not exclusively.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to the centrality of the role in the healthcare system.
Grammar
How to Use “midwife” in a Sentence
[Noun] midwife [Verb] the baby/birth[Noun] midwife [Preposition] (e.g., for, to, during)[Verb] (to midwife) [Noun] (e.g., a birth, a project, a new idea)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “midwife” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She trained to midwife births in the local community.
- The organisation was set up to midwife new social enterprises.
American English
- He helped midwife the peace negotiations to a successful conclusion.
- Their team was brought in to midwife the new software rollout.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively used in phrases like 'midwife a deal' meaning to facilitate its completion.
Academic
Common in medical, sociological, and historical texts. Used figuratively in humanities (e.g., 'midwife of democracy').
Everyday
Common in discussions of pregnancy, birth, and healthcare.
Technical
Core term in obstetrics, midwifery, and public health.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “midwife”
- Using 'midwife' as a verb without an object (e.g., 'She midwived' is odd; better: 'She midwived the birth.').
- Misspelling as 'midwif' or 'mid-wife'. The plural is 'midwives'.
- Assuming the word is exclusively for females; a male midwife is still a 'midwife'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, although the profession is historically female-dominated, men can and do qualify and work as midwives. The job title remains 'midwife'.
A midwife is a medically trained professional responsible for the clinical care of mother and baby during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support but does not perform medical tasks.
Yes, though less common. It means to assist in the birth of a baby or, more often figuratively, to help bring about an idea, project, or change.
The plural is 'midwives'. The 'f' changes to a 'v' in the plural form, similar to 'wife/wives' or 'knife/knives'.
A person, typically a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth.
Midwife is usually neutral, formal in medical contexts, figurative in literary/academic contexts in register.
Midwife: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd.waɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd.waɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “midwife to (e.g., He was the midwife to the new political movement.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MIDdle of the WIFE's labour' – the person who is with the wife in the middle of the process.
Conceptual Metaphor
BIRTH IS CREATION. A midwife is therefore someone who facilitates the 'birth' or creation of anything new (ideas, projects, movements).
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, what does it mean to 'midwife' something?