Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Producing more than one offspring at a single birth: In biology and medicine, "multiparous" describes a female (human or animal) that has given birth two or more times, or, in a single instance, has produced multiple offspring (e.g., twins, triplets). The term is often used in contrast to "primiparous" (having given birth once) and "nulliparous" (never having given birth).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The patient's medical history indicated she was multiparous, having had three previous pregnancies.
  • Rabbits are naturally multiparous animals, often having large litters.
  • The study compared the bone density of primiparous and multiparous women.

Advanced Usage

• In Zoology/Biology: The term is used to classify species or individuals based on their reproductive patterns.
  • The multiparous nature of the species ensures a higher survival rate for at least some offspring.
• In Medical Records: Often abbreviated as "multip" or used in phrases like "gravida 3, para 2" (a woman who has been pregnant three times and has given birth twice), where "para" refers to parity (the number of births).
  • The chart noted the mother was a healthy multiparous female.

Variants and Related Words

• Multiparity (n): The state or condition of being multiparous.
  • Grand multiparity refers to having given birth five or more times.
• Primiparous (adj): Having given birth once.
• Nulliparous (adj): Never having given birth.
• Viviparous (adj): Giving birth to live young (as opposed to laying eggs). This is a different classification of reproductive mode, not a synonym.

Synonyms

• Pluriparous: A less common synonym with the same meaning.
• (Conceptual) Having had multiple births.

Antonyms

• Primiparous: Having given birth once.
• Nulliparous: Never having given birth.
• Uniparous: Producing a single offspring at a birth.

Adjective

1. producing more than one offspring at a time