What does "postpartum" mean?
The period immediately following childbirth.
Postpartum
/ˌpəʊstˈpɑː(ɹ)təm/ adj, adv, noun, slang
adj, adv, noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The period immediately following childbirth.
- Grammar: postpartum is listed as adj, adv, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: farrowed, postnatal, postnatal, postnatal development.
- Useful contrasts: postnatal, prepartum, antepartum.
- Usage evidence: Obstetrics deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
How to use "postpartum"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "postpartum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "postpartum" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "postpartum" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "postpartum" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "postpartum" is acting as adj, adv, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "farrowed" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "postpartum", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The period immediately following childbirth. uncountable
"Postpartum was hard. When I first thought about having a baby, postpartum wasn't on my mind at all. I was just excited to have a brand-new baby that I could call mine."
- 2 Ellipsis of postpartum depression. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal, uncountable
"Brooke made a face at her. “You've always been disgustingly resilient. I had postpartum with Geoffrey. It was grim. But I know you'll be up and singing Christmas carols by tomorrow morning, checking on the roof project, telling everyone what to do.”"
Adjective
- 1 After giving birth (often defined as within 30 days after childbirth). not-comparable
"A non-hormonal birth control capsule that women can insert just before sex. A rape kit that gives victims more agency and streamlines the evidence collection process. An overhauled design for a 150-year-old tool used in postpartum vaginal tearing."
Adjective
- 1 occurring immediately after birth wordnet
Adverb
- 1 After giving birth. not-comparable
"Nothing surprising there (although one relative of mine unequivocally LOVES being pregnant), but what particularly struck me was her complaint that it had messed up her feet, of all things. They had spread out and flattened under the weight of pregnancy, and hurt. It was getting on for a year postpartum and her poor feet were only just getting back to normal."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Obstetrics deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "postpartum"?
Common synonyms include: farrowed, postnatal, postnatal, postnatal development, postnatal period, puerperium.
How do you use "postpartum" in a sentence?
Obstetrics deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
How do you pronounce "postpartum"?
Pronounced /ˌpəʊstˈpɑː(ɹ)təm/.
Etymology
1844, from Latin post (“after”) + partum (“giving birth”), form of partus, from pariō (“I give birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to bring forth”).