obstetric

adjective

ob·​stet·​ric əb-ˈste-trik How to pronounce obstetric (audio)
äb-
variants or obstetrical
: of, relating to, or associated with childbirth or obstetrics
obstetrically adverb

Examples of obstetric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Further, 35 percent of counties in the US are considered maternity deserts, meaning that 1,104 counties in the US do not have a birthing facility or even a single obstetric clinician. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 11 Sep. 2024 The new effort comes as pregnant patients may face dwindling choices for hospital births: Nationally, roughly 1 in 25 obstetric units closed in 2021 and 2022, according to a March of Dimes report. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024 One paper published in Health Services Research earlier this year found that after an obstetric unit closure, the physicians relocated to a new hospital less than 20 miles away and used aggressive birth interventions — like C-sections — less often. Caitlin Owens, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024 In the last two years, 1 in 25 obstetric units shut down. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for obstetric 

Word History

Etymology

modification of Latin obstetricius, from obstetric-, obstetrix midwife, from obstare

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obstetric was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near obstetric

Cite this Entry

“Obstetric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstetric. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

obstetric

adjective
ob·​stet·​ric əb-ˈste-trik How to pronounce obstetric (audio)
äb-
variants or obstetrical
: of or relating to childbirth or obstetrics

Medical Definition

obstetric

adjective
ob·​stet·​ric əb-ˈste-trik, äb- How to pronounce obstetric (audio)
variants or obstetrical
: of, relating to, or associated with childbirth or obstetrics
obstetrically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on obstetric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!