trimester
noun
ˈtrī-ˌme-
Did you know?
Semester, which comes from the Latin words for "six" and "month", has come to mean half an academic year when the year is divided into two segments. When an academic year is divided into three segments, each is called a trimester (which is usually a bit more accurate, since each segment often is close to three months in length). Some colleges operate on the "quarter" system, with the summer being the fourth quarter, but this just means that each quarter is basically a trimester. In a human pregnancy, a trimester is three months long, representing one-third of the nine months that a typical pregnancy lasts.
Examples of trimester in a Sentence
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
The state would be allowed to regulate or prohibit abortions in the third trimester, except if the life and health of the mother is threatened.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
The results suggested that attitudes were somewhat but not radically different, with 66 percent in the first group saying the decision should be left to the person and their doctor in the third trimester, compared to 75 percent of those who were asked the question without a trimester framework.
—Monica Potts, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2024
Heartburn During Pregnancy Pregnant people often experience heartburn, especially in the later trimesters.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Trimester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trimester. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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trimester
noun
ˈtrī-ˌ
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