gestation
2 synonyms for gestation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use gestation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gestation period
in gestation
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin gestatio, related to gestare, "to carry" — the same idea as physically carrying a child.
Full origin of gestation →Frequently asked questions
What does “gestation” mean?
The word “gestation” means the period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth. In plain terms, the time a baby (or an idea) spends developing before it "arrives.".
How do you pronounce “gestation”?
“Gestation” is pronounced jehs-TAY-shuhn (/d͡ʒɛsˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “gestation” in a sentence?
Here is “gestation” used in a sentence: “Human gestation lasts about nine months.”
What is another word for “gestation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gestation” include pregnancy.
What part of speech is “gestation”?
“Gestation” is a noun.
Where does the word “gestation” come from?
The word “gestation” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin gestatio, related to gestare, "to carry" — the same idea as physically carrying a child.
How many meanings does “gestation” have?
“Gestation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth.
