surrogacy

noun

sur·ro·ga·cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē

: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother

Examples of surrogacy in a Sentence

choosing between adoption and surrogacy

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.

Some conservative legislators and advocacy groups have also been challenging the legitimacy of surrogacy, a few with plans to limit or even ban it. — Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 Besides paternity and maternity leave, the company helps pay off student loans, provides support for aging parents, reimburses IVF and surrogacy expenses, and offers support programs for neurodiverse employees and parents of neurodiverse children. — Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 To try to end surrogacy rights for families struggling to have children. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 There is no comprehensive federal law regulating surrogacy, leaving most rules to the states. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surrogacy

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of surrogacy was in 1982

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

surrey green

surrogacy

surrogate

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Surrogacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrogacy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

surrogacy

noun

sur·ro·ga·cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē, ˈsə-rə-

plural surrogacies

: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother

Legal Definition

surrogacy

noun

sur·ro·ga·cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē

plural surrogacies

: the office of a surrogate

: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother

surrogacy

noun

Examples of surrogacy in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

Legal Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes