maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother : motherly

maternal love

maternal instincts

2

a

: related through a mother

his maternal aunt

b

: inherited or derived from the female parent

maternal genes

maternally

mə-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• mother
• motherly

Examples of maternal in a Sentence

Doctors are concerned about the effects of the drug on maternal health.

her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, Donald Trump has boasted about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, and maternal deaths have increased by almost 25 percent since 2020, reports Vox. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Amid the deluge of evidence of the harm, including research suggesting Texas’ legislation has increased infant and maternal deaths, some of the ban’s most prominent supporters have muted their public enthusiasm for it. —Cassandra Jaramillo and Kavitha Surana, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024

In the wake of the Dobbs decision, researchers observe that communities already afflicted with poverty and inadequate medical care will also suffer disproportionate harm in the way of pregnancy complications and maternal death. —Essence, 31 Oct. 2024

What Does the Term Bonus Mom Mean? Bonus mom isn’t a clinical term, but a term that has come up in the culture to describe maternal figures who play nurturing roles in kids’ lives. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French maternel, from Medieval Latin maternalis, from Latin maternus, from mater mother — more at mother

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to a mother : motherly

2

a

: related through a mother

maternal grandparents

b

: obtained or received from a female parent

maternal chromosomes

maternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Etymology

Middle English maternal "maternal, of or like a mother," from early French maternel (same meaning), from Latin maternus "maternal," from mater "mother" — related to alma mater

Medical Definition

maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother

maternal instinct

2

a

: related through a mother

his maternal aunt

b

: inherited or derived from the female parent

maternal genes

maternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb