Meanings
nounmaternalism (countable and uncountable, plural maternalisms)
plural maternalisms
- countableuncountableThe treatment of people in a motherly manner, especially by caring for them as a mother would care for her children.
Synonyms: motherliness
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe treatment of people in a motherly manner, especially by caring for them as a mother would care for her children.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother
Similar
Broader
parental quality
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 母愛主義 /母爱主义, 母爱主义
- 母愛主義 /母爱主义 (mǔ'ài zhǔyì)treatment of people in a motherly manner
- 母爱主义 (mǔ'ài zhǔyì)treatment of people in a motherly manner
- 家長主義 /家长主义 (jiāzhǎng zhǔyì)treatment of people in a motherly manner
- 家长主义 (jiāzhǎng zhǔyì)treatment of people in a motherly manner
Finnish äidillisyys
- äidillisyystreatment of people in a motherly manner
Cite this entry
APA
maternalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maternalism
MLA
“maternalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maternalism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “maternalism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maternalism.
Source: maternalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.