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motherhood
[ muhth-er-hood ]
noun
- the state of being a mother; maternity.
- the qualities or spirit of a mother.
- mothers collectively.
adjective
- having or relating to an inherent worthiness, justness, or goodness that is obvious or unarguable:
legislation pushed through on a motherhood basis.
motherhood
/ ˈmʌðəˌhʊd /
noun
- the state of being a mother
- the qualities characteristic of a mother
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Word History and Origins
Origin of motherhood1
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Example Sentences
So, I made it my mission to create a new mom-wear line that would empower professional expecting and new moms to honor their identities, while embracing the transformation of motherhood.
Over the decades, Rogers had learned that motherhood meant doing hard things.
She’d seen too many women in her family in bad marriages with bad men, trapped by a combination of motherhood, poverty and trauma.
It was motherhood, she said, that sparked her activist role there.
So much so, she decided to take a step back and focus on motherhood.
And motherhood is indeed one of the biggest siphons that draws women away from tech.
The incompatibility between motherhood and tech, it seems, runs far deeper than the timing of pregnancy alone.
It is about unfortunate biological mechanisms gone awry, compounded by the real stress of motherhood.
We need to a better job of explaining that women use birth control for much more than delaying or avoiding motherhood.
President Obama is absolutely correct that ensuring work is compatible with motherhood is essential.
And as I gazed at the holy face, another light seemed to change it by degrees from saddened motherhood to triumphant woman!
She gave her husband three children, though she never loved him, devoting herself to the duties of motherhood.
I have been cheated out of the joys of motherhood, that is the truth—the spring was poisoned for me at the very beginning.
All women display an innocent artfulness, the first time they find themselves facing motherhood.
Perhaps no greater charm prevails in this world of wage-earners than the attitude toward motherhood.
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Related Words
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More About Motherhood
What does motherhood mean?
Motherhood is the state of being a mother.
A person enters motherhood when they become a mother. This most commonly happens when their child is born, but it can also happen through adoption or by marrying or becoming a partner to someone with children.
Motherhood is a gender-specific version of the term parenthood.
Less commonly, motherhood can refer to all mothers collectively, as in You won’t find a better mom in all of motherhood.
Example: People who have not experienced motherhood probably shouldn’t be so quick to criticize how moms parent their children.
Where does motherhood come from?
The first records of the word motherhood come from around 1400. The suffix -hood indicates a state or condition—in this case, the state of being a mother. It’s used in the same way in words like fatherhood, parenthood, adulthood, and childhood.
Unlike adulthood, the start of motherhood is very definite—it begins when a person becomes a mother. After that, most mothers consider motherhood to be a permanent state that lasts even after their children have grown up. In other words, once you become a mother, you never stop being one. Motherhood is usually considered very challenging due to all the difficulties of raising children, but it’s usually also considered very rewarding. It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love, as the saying goes.
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What are some synonyms for motherhood?
What are some words that share a root or word element with motherhood?
What are some words that often get used in discussing motherhood?
How is motherhood used in real life?
The word motherhood is often associated with the many challenges that it involves.
#motherhood isn't just about giving birth, it is the inherent instinct to love unconditionally, to care for, to protect at all cost, to nurture and to watch that little child grow and blossom, then to enjoy the unexplained joy that comes along with it. pic.twitter.com/h2W1rPzSg3
— Ironn Sky (@IronnSky) November 17, 2020
From the #VFArchives: Adele opens up about the challenges of motherhood, melancholy, and mega-stardom https://t.co/223AJkXHJH #Grammys pic.twitter.com/8qyJxbk8QY
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 13, 2017
I'm already learning some of the challenges of motherhood. It's a full time job for sure. But I'm happy to have the responsibility! 👶🏽💕
— RAVEN ELYSE (@RavenElyseTV) April 15, 2016
Try using motherhood!
True or False?
Motherhood is usually thought to end when a mother’s child is an adult.
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