gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

1

: the carrying of young in the uterus (see uterus sense 1) : pregnancy

2

: conception (see conception sense 3) and development especially in the mind

gestational

je-ˈstā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• family way
• gravidity
• pregnancy

Examples of gestation in a Sentence

the gestation of new ideas

The book has been in gestation for a long time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Of those, only 0.9 percent of abortions were performed after 21 weeks of gestation, which would account for less than two pregnancies per 1,000 births. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

The infant was born via emergency cesarean section at 24 weeks gestation and she was immediately intubated and admitted to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

More memorable Riley patients Van Arsdale twins: In 1943, Hilda Van Arsdale gave birth to twin sons seven weeks early at a time when most babies didn't survive at that gestation. —Dana Hunsinger Benbow, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Oct. 2024

The report looked at fetal deaths or stillbirths at 20 weeks gestation or more. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin gestation-, gestatio, from gestare to bear, frequentative of gerere to bear

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

: the carrying of young in the uterus : pregnancy

Medical Definition

gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

1

: the carrying of young in the uterus from conception to delivery : pregnancy

2

: gestation period

gestational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective