late-term

IPA/ˈleɪtˌtɜːm/
IPA/ˈleɪtˌtɝːm/

late-term — adjective

1. happening in the last few weeks of pregnancy, just before the baby is due.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

happening in the last few weeks of pregnancy, just before the baby is due.

Example

Anjali had a late-term ultrasound to check the baby's position.

late-term + ultrasound (medical scan)

Eitan drove his wife to a late-term check-up at the clinic.

late-term + check-up (medical appointment)

Common collocations
  • late-term abortion
  • late-term miscarriage
  • late-term ultrasound
  • late-term complications
  • late-term check-up
  • late-term prenatal care
Synonyms
  • third-trimester

    more clinical; refers specifically to weeks 28–40 of pregnancy

  • late-pregnancy

    alternative compound modifier, e.g. 'late-pregnancy bleeding'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

late-term + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun. Common in medical contexts, especially obstetrics and prenatal care.

Common Mistakes

The baby was born at 40 weeks after a late-term pregnancy.
The baby was born at 40 weeks after a full-term pregnancy.
'Late-term' describes the final stage before birth, not the point when the baby is ready to be delivered.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These terms all describe the final part of pregnancy but differ in register and precision. 'Late-term' is common in everyday medical communication and news reports; it feels slightly less clinical than 'third-trimester,' which is the standard term used by doctors and in medical records for weeks 28–40. 'Late-pregnancy' works as a compound modifier (e.g. 'late-pregnancy bleeding') but is less frequent than 'late-term.' 'Late-stage' is broader — it can describe any condition that is far along, not only pregnancy — so it lacks the specific obstetric meaning that 'late-term' carries. When talking about pregnancy, choose 'late-term' for general use and 'third-trimester' for precise clinical contexts.

third-trimesterlate-pregnancylate-stage

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed from 'late' (Old English læt, meaning 'slow, tardy') and 'term' (from Latin terminus via Old French terme, meaning 'end, limit'). The compound emerged in 20th-century medical English to describe the final stage of pregnancy.