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Maternity vs Maternal - What's the difference?

maternity | maternal |

As a noun maternity

is the state of being a mother; motherhood.

As an adjective maternal is

of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly.

maternity

English

Noun

  • The state of being a mother; motherhood.
  • The state of being pregnant; pregnancy.
  • A ward or department in a hospital in which babies are born.

    • Synonyms

    * (ward) (l)

    Antonyms

    * (l) (with respect to gender)

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l), (l)

    maternal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly.
    • His weakness seemed to bring out her maternal instincts.
  • Related through the mother, or her side of the family.
    • Toby is my maternal uncle.
  • (anatomy, medicine) Derived from the mother as opposed to the foetus during pregnancy.

    • Derived terms

    * maternal aunt * maternal cousin * maternal death * maternal grandfather * maternal grandmother * maternal uncle

    Antonyms

    * paternal – father

    Coordinate terms

    * avuncular – uncle * materteral – aunt * paternal – father