rent-a-womb

9.9

A woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple

noun
/ˈrɛntəˌwʊm/

Offensive

: vientre de alquiler

Many couples look for rent-a-womb options when they are unable to conceive naturally.

Examples

She read an article discussing legal reforms about rent-a-womb arrangements.
The ethical implications of the rent-a-womb industry are widely debated.
Many couples consider using a rent-a-womb to start their family.
A rent-a-womb can provide a solution for those facing infertility.
Many couples look for rent-a-womb options when they are unable to conceive naturally.
Many couples consider using a rent-a-womb to start their family.
A rent-a-womb can provide a solution for those facing infertility.

Synonyms

surrogacy

vsrent-a-womb

15 5.4

A woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for other people

is an informal name for the arrangement used in casual speech

surrogate mother

vsrent-a-womb

11 4.3

A woman who becomes pregnant to have a baby for another person or couple

refers to the whole arrangement or service rather than the individual woman

How Commercial

rent-a-womb

Offensive

9.9

surrogate mother

11 4.3

Surface Forms

rent-a-womb singular

rent-a-wombs plural

Morphology

rent-a-womb = rent + a + womb (transparent) = rent + a + womb

The meaning is directly compositional from 'rent' + 'a' + 'womb' (hire a womb), so learners can infer the sense.

Etymology

Rent-a-womb combines the common word rent, which means 'pay to use something for a time', and womb, the body place where a baby grows. Think of it like 'renting a room' but the 'room' is the womb, so the term refers to paying for someone to carry a baby for you.