maternity
muh-TUR-nuh-tee
/məˈtɜːrnəti/
The state of being a mother; also used to describe clothes or medical wards designed for pregnant women.
It carries a sense of care and institutional support, often seen in 'maternity leave' or 'maternity ward'.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'maternitas', which comes from 'mater' (mother). It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe the condition of being a mother.
Word relationships
- motherhood: Motherhood refers to the social and emotional role, while maternity often refers to the biological or legal state.
- paternity: Paternity refers to the state of being a father.
Commonly confused with
- maternal: Maternal is an adjective describing motherly feelings; maternity is the state itself or a category of products.
Word family
- maternal (adjective): Related to a mother.
Collocations
- maternity leave
- maternity clothes
- maternity ward
- maternity benefits
Example sentences
- "She decided to take her maternity leave two weeks before her due date to prepare for the baby." Workplace policy
- "Maternity is a matter of fact, paternity a matter of opinion." Literature (James Joyce, Ulysses)
Memory hook
Maternity starts with 'M' just like 'Mother'. Mother-related.
When not to use
Do not use 'motherhood' when referring to the physical facilities or clothing; use 'maternity' instead.
Fun facts
- The first 'maternity' clothes were actually just loose-fitting gowns called 'Adriennes' in the 18th century.
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