maternity leave

noun

: time off from a job given a mother to take care of a newborn child
The company granted her maternity leave.

Examples of maternity leave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Accordingly, her tenure drew an intense spotlight, including her decision to take a short maternity leave. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Leavitt stepped down in August, shortly after returning from maternity leave. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in White House history, stepped down in August after returning from maternity leave. — Connor Greene, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 Leavitt went on maternity leave after giving birth to her second child earlier this year. — Terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maternity leave

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maternity leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternity%20leave. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!