I. ma ‧ ter ‧ ni ‧ ty 1 /məˈtɜːnəti, məˈtɜːnɪti $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
relating to a woman who is ↑ pregnant or who has just had a baby ⇨ paternity :
a maternity dress
maternity benefits/pay etc (=money that the government or employers give to a woman after she has had a baby)
II. maternity 2 BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
the state of being a mother