midwife

IPA/ˈmɪdwaɪf/
KK[mˈɪdwˌaɪf]IPA/ˈmɪdwaɪf/

midwife — noun

  • midwifesingular
  • midwivesplural

1. A person trained to care for and support a woman during pregnancy, labour, and t

1.nounB2
Definition

A person trained to care for and support a woman during pregnancy, labour, and the period after childbirth, often in a home or birth-centre setting as well as in hospitals.

Example

Théo's older sister trained for three years to become a licensed midwife.

becoming a licensed midwife — training and qualification pattern

The midwife checked the mother's pulse and temperature every hour during labour.

midwife's duties during labour — checking vital signs

Common collocations
  • licensed midwife
  • trained midwife
  • certified midwife
  • hire a midwife
  • home birth with a midwife
  • midwife-led care
Synonyms
  • doula

    A doula offers emotional and physical support during labour but does not perform medical checks or deliveries, unlike a midwife.

  • obstetrician

    A medical doctor who handles high-risk pregnancies and surgical deliveries; more advanced training than a midwife.

  • birth attendant

    A broader, less formal term covering midwives, doulas, nurses, and doctors who assist at a birth.

Usage Note

Common in contexts mentioning home births, birth centres, and natural childbirth. In many countries, midwives are licensed medical professionals distinct from doulas, who provide emotional support but not clinical care.

Common Mistakes

The mid-wife arrived at the clinic.
The midwife arrived at the clinic.
The word is one word, not hyphenated.
A midwife only helps during labour.
A midwife provides care during pregnancy, labour, and after the birth.
Midwives offer continuous care, not just during delivery.

midwife — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three refer to people who assist with childbirth, but their training and scope differ. A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who can independently manage pregnancy, labour, and postpartum care, often in homes or birth centres. A doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support during childbirth but does not perform medical tasks or deliver babies. An obstetrician is a medical doctor who handles high-risk pregnancies, surgical deliveries, and hospital-based care. For example: 'She planned a home birth with a midwife and hired a doula for extra support.' 'When complications arose, the midwife transferred care to the obstetrician at the hospital.'

doula ↗obstetrician ↗birth attendant

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • qualified midwife
  • midwife-led care
  • home birth with a midwife

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Midwife comes from Middle English 'midwif', a compound of 'mid' (meaning 'with') and 'wif' ('woman'). The term literally described a woman who stays 'with' another woman during childbirth. The noun dates back to the 14th century, and the figurative verb sense — helping bring something into existence — developed later in the 20th century.