gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce gestation (audio)
1
: the carrying of young in the uterus (see uterus sense 1) : pregnancy
2
: conception (see conception sense 3) and development especially in the mind
gestational adjective

Examples of gestation in a Sentence

the gestation of new ideas The book has been in gestation for a long time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In what way? There was just this long gestation period. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2025 Mice and humans share about 80% of the same genes, according to the Understanding Animal Research website, and laboratory mice are also good scientific subjects because of their short lifespan (about 2 years) and gestation period (19-21 days). Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 After 22 months—the typical elephant gestation period—an ice age mammoth should, at least theoretically, be born into the computer-age world. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 That included a ban on the sale of pork raised using gestation crates — tiny cages in which pregnant pigs are kept continually, barely given any room to move. Dylan Matthews, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gestation

Word History

Etymology

Latin gestation-, gestatio, from gestare to bear, frequentative of gerere to bear

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gestation was in 1615

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestation. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

gestation

noun
ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce gestation (audio)
: the carrying of young in the uterus : pregnancy

Medical Definition

gestation

noun
ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce gestation (audio)
1
: the carrying of young in the uterus from conception to delivery : pregnancy
2
gestational adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gestation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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