prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
1
: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth
prenatal care
a prenatal test
prenatal vitamins
2
: providing or receiving prenatal medical care
a prenatal clinic
prenatal patients
prenatally adverb

Examples of prenatal 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.
Combined, Medicaid and CHIP protect nearly half of all children in the United States, beginning with important prenatal care, covering over 40% of U.S. births as well as nearly half of all rural births, and continuing to insure millions of vulnerable children into young adulthood. Cory Turner, NPR, 20 June 2025 As Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has noted, the fear of an enormous bill leads some women to delay or even skip prenatal or postpartum care, endangering their health and their baby's. MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 For example, iron may be needed for women with heavy periods, B12 helps vegetarians and vegans and prenatal vitamins are crucial during pregnancy and lactation. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 June 2025 Global Women’s Health Fund (launched in 2024): Started with a $1.5 million donation from Hologic, this fund delivers prenatal vitamins to over one million women globally through a partnership with UNICEF. Jenn Nelson, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prenatal

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prenatal was in 1826

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prenatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prenatal. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

prenatal

adjective
pre·​na·​tal (ˈ)prē-ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
: occurring or existing before birth
prenatal care
prenatal development

Medical Definition

prenatal

adjective
pre·​na·​tal -ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
1
: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth
prenatal care
the prenatal period
prenatal testing
prenatal vitamins
2
: providing or receiving prenatal medical care
a prenatal clinic
a prenatal patient

called also antenatal

compare intranatal, neonatal, postnatal
prenatally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prenatal

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!