prenatal
adjective
pre·na·tal
(ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl 
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
Examples of prenatal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1988, the CDC recommended universal prenatal screening and linked an infant's vaccination to the mother's test result, again basing protection on a risk marker instead of vaccinating all infants.
—
Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Our review also reported that children of mothers with prenatal sleep problems are more likely to develop obesity and have more behavioral problems in childhood.
—Jenalee Doom, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite their very different opinions on the medical establishment, Liz and Jess have—well, had—been close friends for a decade, as part of a circle that formed among first-time parents at a prenatal class.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
The pregnant mom of two also enjoyed a prenatal message at Aruba Wellness Therapies.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prenatal
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Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Our review also reported that children of mothers with prenatal sleep problems are more likely to develop obesity and have more behavioral problems in childhood.
—Jenalee Doom, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite their very different opinions on the medical establishment, Liz and Jess have—well, had—been close friends for a decade, as part of a circle that formed among first-time parents at a prenatal class.
—Judy Berman, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
The pregnant mom of two also enjoyed a prenatal message at Aruba Wellness Therapies.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prenatal
Cite this Entry
“Prenatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prenatal. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prenatal
adjective
pre·na·tal
(ˈ)prē-ˈnāt-ᵊl
: occurring or existing before birth
prenatal care
prenatal development
Medical Definition
prenatal
adjective
pre·na·tal
-ˈnāt-ᵊl
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, postnatalLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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