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

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

The medical model focuses more on monitoring, control and management of the body whereas midwifery focuses more on support of natural physiological function. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 23 Sep. 2024

The midwifery group was born out of Karie Stewart’s frustration with a system that was failing Black and brown families. —Rod McCullom, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 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