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Definition of postnatal

postnatal

/ˌpoʊstˈneɪtəl/
post · na · tal
Adverb:postnatally
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postnatal Lexical Profile

postnatal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to, characteristic of, or occurring during the period immediately following childbirth.

Example

"The hospital offers comprehensive postnatal care to support both new mothers and their infants."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for postnatal
Antonyms
View all antonyms for postnatal

Word Nuance & Usage

In strict medical usage, 'postnatal' refers specifically to the newborn infant after birth, whereas 'postpartum' refers to the mother, though the two terms are frequently used interchangeably in general English (especially in British English, as in 'postnatal depression').

• Rhymes for postnatal

• Nearby Words

postmenopause
postmodern
postmortem
postnatal
postnatally
postnuptial
postop

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from the Latin prefix 'post-' (meaning 'after') and 'natalis' (meaning 'relating to birth', from 'natus', past participle of 'nasci', 'to be born').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Postnatal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/postnatal
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