family planning

noun

: planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through birth control

Examples of family planning 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.
While no country is perfect, these qualities add tangible value for long-term family planning. — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The show resulted in an increase in the number of listeners who took the initiative to adopt family planning methods and encouraged listeners to talk with spouses and peers about contraception. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026 It is equipped for treating minor illness and injuries, family planning services, physical exams, health screenings, adult vaccinations and referrals to specialty care. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 12 May 2026 Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes in North Richland Hills closed May 15, with the Vineyard family planning to develop a new concept in the same building. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for family planning

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of family planning was in 1934

Rhymes for family planning

See All Rhymes for family planning

Browse Nearby Words

family physician
family planning
family practice
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Family planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20planning. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

family planning

noun
: planning that is intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children by using effective methods of birth control

Medical Definition

family planning

noun
-ˈplan-iŋ How to pronounce family planning (audio)
: planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through effective methods of birth control

More from Merriam-Webster on family planning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family planning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All