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noun Uncommon

motherhood

MUH-thuh-huud

Motherhood (noun) means the state or experience of being a mother. Example: “Motherhood changed the way she saw the world.”

noun
1
The state or experience of being a mother.
"Motherhood changed the way she saw the world."
"The book explores the challenges of early motherhood."

How to use motherhood

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe condition or role of being someone's mother.

Common pairings
embrace motherhood the joys of motherhood single motherhood

Word forms

motherhoods plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ changed the way she saw the world.

Etymology

From Middle English moderhode, built from "mother" plus the suffix "-hood", which denotes a state or condition.

Origin: Middle English

momhood mumhood mommyhood mummyhood mothership

Related words

Rhymes for motherhood

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Frequently asked questions

What does “motherhood” mean?

The word “motherhood” means the state or experience of being a mother. In plain terms, the condition or role of being someone's mother.

How do you pronounce “motherhood”?

“Motherhood” is pronounced MUH-thuh-huud (/ˈmʌðɚˌhʊd/ in IPA).

How do you use “motherhood” in a sentence?

Here is “motherhood” used in a sentence: “Motherhood changed the way she saw the world.”

What is another word for “motherhood”?

Words with a similar meaning to “motherhood” include momhood, mumhood, mommyhood, mummyhood and mothership.

What part of speech is “motherhood”?

“Motherhood” is a noun.

Where does the word “motherhood” come from?

The word “motherhood” comes from Middle English. From Middle English moderhode, built from "mother" plus the suffix "-hood", which denotes a state or condition.

Is “motherhood” a common word?

“Motherhood” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial