midwifery

noun

mid·​wife·​ry ˌmid-ˈwi-f(ə-)rē  -ˈwī- 

ˈmid-ˌwī-

1

: the art or act of assisting at childbirth

also : obstetrics

2

: the art, act, or process of producing, bringing forth, or bringing about

Examples of midwifery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Medical education, including nursing and midwifery, was one of the only forms of education still available to women in the country. —Brian Cheng, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

Students turned away from classes Five Afghan women who were studying nursing and midwifery told NPR that they were turned away from their respective private institutions this week. —Diaa Hadid, NPR, 4 Dec. 2024

In general, midwifery treats birth as a natural process in which little intervention is necessary. —Bracey Harris, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024

Previously, physicians had rarely wanted to collaborate with Holy Family—midwifery was viewed in the Valley as a pseudoscience. —Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

midwifery

noun

mid·​wife·​ry ˌmid-ˈwif-(ə-)rē  -ˈwīf- 

ˈmid-ˌwīf-

: the art or act of assisting at childbirth

also : obstetrics

Medical Definition

midwifery

noun

mid·​wife·​ry ˌmid-ˈwif-(ə-)rē  -ˈwīf-; ˈmid-ˌwīf- 

plural midwiferies

: the art or act of assisting at childbirth

also : obstetrics see nurse-midwifery