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noun Common

pregnancy

PREHG-nuhn-see

Pregnancy (noun) means the condition of carrying a developing baby inside the body, from conception to birth. Example: “She announced her pregnancy to close friends first.”

noun
1
The condition of carrying a developing baby inside the body, from conception to birth.
"She announced her pregnancy to close friends first."
"Doctors monitor blood pressure closely throughout pregnancy."

How to use pregnancy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe whole period and physical state of expecting a baby.

Common pairings
early pregnancy high-risk pregnancy during pregnancy

Word forms

pregnancies plural

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Can you complete this real example?

She announced her _____ to close friends first.

Etymology

Formed from pregnant plus the noun-forming suffix -cy.

childbearing expecting cyesis gestation gravidation gravidity pregnation

Related words

Rhymes for pregnancy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “pregnancy” mean?

The word “pregnancy” means the condition of carrying a developing baby inside the body, from conception to birth. In plain terms, the whole period and physical state of expecting a baby.

How do you pronounce “pregnancy”?

“Pregnancy” is pronounced PREHG-nuhn-see (/ˈpɹɛɡnənsi/ in IPA).

How do you use “pregnancy” in a sentence?

Here is “pregnancy” used in a sentence: “She announced her pregnancy to close friends first.”

What is another word for “pregnancy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “pregnancy” include cyesis, gestation, gravidation, gravidity and pregnation.

What part of speech is “pregnancy”?

“Pregnancy” is a noun.

Is “pregnancy” a common word?

“Pregnancy” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between "pregnancy" and "gestation"?

"Pregnancy" is the condition of carrying a developing baby inside the body, from conception to birth, and is the everyday word used for people. "Gestation" refers to the same period of development and is used more technically, including for animals. Gestation is listed as a synonym of pregnancy.

What is the difference between "pregnancy" and "conception"?

Conception is the moment when a new life begins to form, whereas pregnancy is the whole condition of carrying the developing baby from that point until birth. Conception marks the start of a pregnancy.

What are the three main stages of a pregnancy called?

A pregnancy, the condition of carrying a developing baby from conception to birth, is commonly divided into three parts called trimesters. Each trimester covers roughly three months of the pregnancy.

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