lactation
noun
lac·ta·tion
lak-ˈtā-shən 
plural lactations
1
: the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands
… there may be overproduction of prolactin, the breast milk hormone. A sign of that might be abnormal lactation.—
Paul G. Donohue
Paul G. DonohueWhen a doe kids and begins lactation, she must draw on the calcium stored in her bones to furnish enough blood calcium for milk production.—David B. Weems
David B. Weems… lactation rooms where mothers can express milk for baby.—Shawn Tully
Shawn Tully… the infants of mothers given the names of lactation support groups or individuals instead are more likely to be fully breast-feeding at four months.—Barbara Quick
Barbara Quick2
: one complete period of lactation extending from about the time of birthing to weaning
… cows fed 1.1 percent bicarb in the total ration produced an average 17,587 lbs. of milk per lactation …—Eastern Milk Producer
Eastern Milk ProducerExamples of lactation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Holy Name also offers lactation specialists and discharge nurses, who provide specialized education to new moms, and in recent years, has rolled out a doula policy to bring those professionals into the fold.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
With programs ranging from childbirth education to lactation consulting and doula care, Birthmark ensures families are supported at every stage of their journey.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Apr. 2025
Women on their way to lactation appointments would have to turn around.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The vaccine targets a lactation protein that is no longer found after lactation in normal breast tissues but is present in most triple-negative breast cancers.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lactation
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.
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
With programs ranging from childbirth education to lactation consulting and doula care, Birthmark ensures families are supported at every stage of their journey.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Apr. 2025
Women on their way to lactation appointments would have to turn around.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The vaccine targets a lactation protein that is no longer found after lactation in normal breast tissues but is present in most triple-negative breast cancers.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lactation
Cite this Entry
“Lactation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lactation. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lactation
noun
lac·ta·tion
lak-ˈtā-shən
1
: the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland
2
: one complete period of lactation extending from about the time of parturition to weaning
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share