midwifery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical/Professional
Quick answer
What does “midwifery” mean?
The profession or practice of assisting women in childbirth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The profession or practice of assisting women in childbirth.
The process of assisting in the birth of a child; figuratively, the act of facilitating the emergence or development of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties. The verb 'to midwife' is more readily accepted in American English for figurative use.
Connotations
In both, it carries strong professional and healthcare connotations. In the UK, it is more closely associated with the NHS and a distinct, regulated profession.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to the prominence of the 'Midwife' role within the National Health Service (NHS).
Grammar
How to Use “midwifery” in a Sentence
She is qualified in midwifery.The hospital provides excellent midwifery.His role involved the midwifery of new ideas.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “midwifery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She trained to midwife in community settings.
- [Figurative] The treaty was midwifed by diplomats through long nights.
American English
- Nurses can choose to midwife after additional certification.
- [Figurative] He midwifed the startup from a garage idea to a listed company.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Midwifery' is not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Midwifery' is not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The midwifery team was on call.
- She pursued midwifery studies at university.
American English
- The hospital's midwifery program is highly ranked.
- They discussed midwifery models of care.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'The manager acted as a midwife to the new project.'
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, public health, and gender studies programmes.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used when discussing professions or healthcare topics.
Technical
Standard term in healthcare, nursing, and medical education contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “midwifery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “midwifery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “midwifery”
- Mispronouncing it as 'mid-wife-ry' (correctly 'mid-wif-ery' or 'mid-wife-ry' in US).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a midwifery' is wrong).
- Confusing spelling: 'midwifery' not 'midwivery'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used figuratively to mean helping to bring any new idea or project into existence, though this is less common.
The main difference is in the second syllable. UK English typically uses a short 'i' sound (/ˌmɪdˈwɪf.ər.i/), while US English often uses a long 'i' (/ˈmɪdˌwaɪ.fɚ.i/), making it sound like 'mid-wife-ery'.
No, 'midwifery' is an uncountable noun. You refer to 'the practice of midwifery' or 'a career in midwifery', not 'a midwifery'. You can, however, say 'a midwifery practice' (where 'practice' is the countable noun).
No, a midwife is a distinct healthcare professional specialising in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. They work alongside doctors (obstetricians) but have separate training and qualifications.
The profession or practice of assisting women in childbirth.
Midwifery is usually formal, technical/professional in register.
Midwifery: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪdˈwɪf.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪdˌwaɪ.fɚ.i/ or /ˌmɪdˈwaɪ.fɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Figurative] To midwife something into existence.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the MIDdle of a WIFE's life event (childbirth) + the -ERY of a profession like 'cookery' = the profession of assisting wives/women in childbirth.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROFESSION IS A SERVICE; BIRTH/ CREATION IS A PROCESS FACILITATED BY AN EXPERT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'midwifery' LEAST likely to be used?