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

As noted in a recent Forbes article, reductions in CDC leadership and funding are already affecting programs that target maternal health, rural health outreach, and chronic disease prevention. —Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

Yewande Odia heads the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) office in Chad, which is responsible for reproductive and maternal health. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025

For The Union-Tribune Heir pollution Researchers report that both maternal and paternal exposures to outdoor air pollution can negatively affect human embryo development in in vitro fertilization cycles. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

The risk of pre-eclampsia, a dangerous hypertensive disorder that is poorly understood but remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide, is less than 5% among the general population of pregnant women. —Sarah Varney, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for maternal

• diurnal
• eternal
• external
• fraternal
• infernal
• internal
• nocturnal
• paternal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

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