maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtər-nᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother : motherly
maternal love
maternal instincts
2
a
: related through a mother
his maternal aunt
b
: inherited or derived from the female parent
maternal genes
Examples of maternal in a Sentence
Doctors are concerned about the effects of the drug on maternal health.
her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
Medical debt Those high rates of maternal mortality contribute, at least in part, to medical debt.
—
Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Deaths and births disproportionately occurred in the South, which has already tended to have worse infant and maternal health outcomes than the rest of the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Hayes resolution focuses on health outcomes including life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, high rates of cancer and other diseases that disproportionately impact people of color.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2025
In addition to maternal and child health, USAID focuses largely on prevention and treatment of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis — diseases that impact women and girls at disproportionate rates compared to men and boys in some developing areas around the world.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
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Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025
Deaths and births disproportionately occurred in the South, which has already tended to have worse infant and maternal health outcomes than the rest of the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Hayes resolution focuses on health outcomes including life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, high rates of cancer and other diseases that disproportionately impact people of color.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2025
In addition to maternal and child health, USAID focuses largely on prevention and treatment of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis — diseases that impact women and girls at disproportionate rates compared to men and boys in some developing areas around the world.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
Cite this Entry
“Maternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternal. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a mother : motherly
2
a
: related through a mother
maternal grandparents
b
: obtained or received from a female parent
maternal chromosomes
Etymology
Middle English maternal "maternal, of or like a mother," from early French maternel (same meaning), from Latin maternus "maternal," from mater "mother" — related to alma mater
Medical Definition
maternal
adjective
ma·ter·nal
mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother
maternal instinct
2
a
: related through a mother
his maternal aunt
b
: inherited or derived from the female parent
maternal genes
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