noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

midwife

MIHD-wyf

Midwife (noun) means a trained professional, usually not a doctor, who helps women give birth. Example: “Her midwife stayed with her throughout the entire labour.”

noun

A trained professional, usually not a doctor, who helps women give birth.

"Her midwife stayed with her throughout the entire labour."

Someone or something that helps bring about an important change or outcome.

"The mentor acted as a midwife to the young writer's first novel."

verb

To work as a midwife, assisting in childbirth.

"She has midwifed hundreds of babies over her career."

To help something difficult come into being.

"The negotiator midwifed a fragile peace deal."

How to use midwife

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA birth specialist, or by extension, anyone who helps guide something new into existence.

Common pairings

certified midwife midwife a birth midwife an agreement

Word forms

midwifed past tense, midwives plural, midwifes singular, midwive verb form, midwive verb form

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Her _____ stayed with her throughout the entire labour.

Etymology

From Middle English midwif, from "mid" ("with") + "wif" ("woman") — literally "with-woman", someone who is with the mother during birth.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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accoucheuse

Rhymes for midwife

Ife wife life fife rife knife strife midlife lowlife wildlife penknife housewife

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Frequently asked questions

What does “midwife” mean?

The word “midwife” means a trained professional, usually not a doctor, who helps women give birth. In plain terms, a birth specialist, or by extension, anyone who helps guide something new into existence.

How do you pronounce “midwife”?

“Midwife” is pronounced MIHD-wyf (/ˈmɪd.waɪf/ in IPA).

How do you use “midwife” in a sentence?

Here is “midwife” used in a sentence: “Her midwife stayed with her throughout the entire labour.”

What is another word for “midwife”?

Words with a similar meaning to “midwife” include accoucheuse.

What part of speech is “midwife”?

Depending on how it is used, “midwife” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “midwife” come from?

The word “midwife” comes from Middle English. From Middle English midwif, from "mid" ("with") + "wif" ("woman") — literally "with-woman", someone who is with the mother during birth.

Is “midwife” a common word?

“Midwife” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “midwife” have?

“Midwife” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a trained professional, usually not a doctor, who helps women give birth.