gestation
noun
ges·ta·tion je-ˈstā-shən 
1
: the carrying of young in the uterus (see uterus sense 1) : pregnancy
2
: conception (see conception sense 3) and development especially in the mind
gestational
je-ˈstā-sh(ə-)nəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- family way
- gravidity
- pregnancy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the gestation of new ideas The book has been in gestation for a long time.
Recent Examples on the Web The patients selected had taken mifepristone within 72 hours or less, and were in varying stages of gestation. 
WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 This month, Georgia’s Department of Revenue set the exemption at $3,000 per pregnancy for fetuses after about six weeks of gestation. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 The dispute, National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, centers on the use of gestation crates for female pigs. Matthew Scully, National Review, 11 July 2022 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, has maintained a biobank of blood and urine samples from pregnant volunteers, collected at various stages of gestation, since 2006. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2022 The Centers for Disease Control reported roughly 4,900 abortions were performed at or after 21 weeks of gestation in 2019, representing 1 percent of all procedures. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Abortions are permitted until cardiac activity is detected, which usually occurs at about six weeks gestation. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 29 June 2022 At issue was the cost of caring for the couple's preemie twin infants, Ava Simone and Solei Diem, who were born at 24 weeks gestation. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2022 According to Integris Health, Casen and his identical twin brother, Hudson, were both born prematurely at 26 weeks gestation after the siblings were diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Nick Maslow, PEOPLE.com, 22 Dec. 2021 See More
WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 This month, Georgia’s Department of Revenue set the exemption at $3,000 per pregnancy for fetuses after about six weeks of gestation. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 The dispute, National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, centers on the use of gestation crates for female pigs. Matthew Scully, National Review, 11 July 2022 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, has maintained a biobank of blood and urine samples from pregnant volunteers, collected at various stages of gestation, since 2006. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2022 The Centers for Disease Control reported roughly 4,900 abortions were performed at or after 21 weeks of gestation in 2019, representing 1 percent of all procedures. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Abortions are permitted until cardiac activity is detected, which usually occurs at about six weeks gestation. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 29 June 2022 At issue was the cost of caring for the couple's preemie twin infants, Ava Simone and Solei Diem, who were born at 24 weeks gestation. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2022 According to Integris Health, Casen and his identical twin brother, Hudson, were both born prematurely at 26 weeks gestation after the siblings were diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Nick Maslow, PEOPLE.com, 22 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin gestation-, gestatio, from gestare to bear, frequentative of gerere to bear
First Known Use
1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
gestation
noun
ges·ta·tion je-ˈstā-shən
1
: the carrying of young in the uterus from conception to delivery : pregnancy
2
: gestation period
gestation
noun
as in pregnancy
the state of containing unborn young within the body the length of gestation for the gray wolf is about 63 days Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pregnancy
- breeding
- conception
- gravidity
- spawning
- family way
- procreation
- begetting
- generation
- siring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- infertility
- barrenness