perinatology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ProfessionalTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “perinatology” mean?
The branch of medicine concerned with the care of the fetus and mother during the period from approximately the 20th week of pregnancy through the first four weeks after birth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of medicine concerned with the care of the fetus and mother during the period from approximately the 20th week of pregnancy through the first four weeks after birth.
The medical specialty focusing on high-risk pregnancies and the management of complex fetal and neonatal conditions, often involving collaboration between obstetricians and neonatologists.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in both medical communities.
Connotations
Highly technical, associated with tertiary care hospitals and fetal medicine units.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general language but standard within obstetrics and neonatology.
Grammar
How to Use “perinatology” in a Sentence
specialise in perinatologya consultant in perinatologythe field of perinatologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perinatology” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Her groundbreaking research in perinatology has improved outcomes for premature infants.
American English
- The hospital is recruiting a new director for its perinatology division.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in medical research papers, clinical guidelines, and specialist textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of medical contexts.
Technical
The standard term for the medical subspecialty; used in patient referrals, hospital department names, and specialist training programmes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “perinatology”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “perinatology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perinatology”
- Using it to refer to general pregnancy care. Misspelling as 'perinatology' or 'perenatology'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Perinatology focuses on the fetus and mother from late pregnancy through the immediate postpartum period. Neonatology focuses on the care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature, from birth until discharge from hospital.
Not exactly. A perinatologist is an obstetrician-gynecologist who has completed additional subspecialty training (a fellowship) in managing high-risk pregnancies.
Typically when a pregnancy is identified as high-risk due to factors like maternal age, pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes), fetal genetic conditions, or previous pregnancy complications.
No, it is a highly specialised medical term. Most people will never encounter it unless they or a family member are involved in a high-risk pregnancy.
The branch of medicine concerned with the care of the fetus and mother during the period from approximately the 20th week of pregnancy through the first four weeks after birth.
Perinatology is usually technical/medical in register.
Perinatology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌper.ɪ.neɪˈtɒl.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌper.ə.neɪˈtɑː.lə.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'peri-' (around) + 'natal' (birth) + '-ology' (study of) = the study of the time around birth.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A TERRITORY / SPECIALTY IS A DOMAIN (e.g., 'She works in the field of perinatology').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of perinatology?