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

• 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

She's already had five transfusions, and her baby is now at 24 weeks gestation.. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

He was born 133 days early, at just 21 weeks gestation. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025

The gestation period for a southern white rhinoceros is 16 months. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025

During the roughly three-week gestation period, the mice were exposed to the three different mixtures at a rate of one puff per minute, four hours per day, five days a week. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 July 2025

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

Rhymes for gestation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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