prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
Synonyms of prenatalnext
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
prenatally
(ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
adverb

Examples of prenatal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Provide prenatal diagnostics, TeleNICU access, neonatal education, standardized care pathways, bridge-to-home services, and rural newborn care coordination. — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 At the same time, some mothers fail to attend prenatal clinics where complications such as anemia and hypertension can be detected. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 According to data published in February by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 4 mothers did not receive prenatal care beginning in the first trimester in 2024, an increase of 13% from 2021. — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Victoria Gioia, who cofounded the stage-specific prenatal vitamin line Perelel, agreed. — Faye Brookman, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prenatal

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prenatal was in 1826

Rhymes for prenatal

See All Rhymes for prenatal

Browse Nearby Words

prenasalize
prenatal
prenatalist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prenatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prenatal. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prenatal

adjective
pre·​na·​tal (ˈ)prē-ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
: occurring or existing before birth
prenatal care
prenatal development

Medical Definition

prenatal

adjective
pre·​na·​tal -ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
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, postnatal
prenatally
-ē How to pronounce prenatal (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prenatal

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prenatal

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