maternity
UK/mә'tә:niti/US
C1
Definitions
n.
The state of being a mother; motherhood
母亲身份；母性
n.
Relating to pregnancy and the period around childbirth
（与）怀孕和产期（相关的）；产科
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmatr (mother) + -ity (state) = the state of being a mother. In everyday English it has shifted toward the practical side of motherhood — maternity leave, maternity ward — the period and arrangements around having a baby.
Root metro still carries 6 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.maternity leave产假
- 2.maternity ward产科病房
- 3.maternity clothes孕妇装
- 4.maternity hospital妇产医院
Example Sentences
- 1.
She is on maternity leave until September.
- 2.
The hospital has a modern maternity ward.
- 3.
He took paternity leave while she returned to work.
Easily Confused
maternity vs maternal — maternity is the noun for the state/period of motherhood (maternity leave). maternal is the adjective for 'motherly' or 'from the mother's side' (maternal instinct, maternal grandmother). You take maternity leave because of your maternal role.