Adjacent Words

birth control definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: limiting the number of children born [syn: birth control, birth prevention, family planning]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1914 1. control of the number of children born especially by preventing or lessening the frequency of conception ; contraception 2. contraceptive devices or preparations

Britannica Concise

Voluntary limiting of human reproduction, using such means as contraception, sexual abstinence, surgical sterilization, and induced abortion. The term was coined in 1914-15 by M. Sanger. Medically, birth control is often advised when childbirth might endanger the mother's health or substantial risk exists of bearing a severely disabled child. Socially and economically, limitation of reproduction frequently reflects a desire to maintain or improve family living standards. Most religious leaders now generally agree that some form of fertility regulation is desirable, though the means are strongly debated. See also family planning.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Birth control means planning whether to have children, and using contraception to prevent having them when they are not wanted.

Moby Thesaurus

aridity, barrenness, contraception, dearth, dry womb, dryness, family planning, famine, impotence, ineffectualness, infecundity, infertility, planned parenthood, rhythm method, sterileness, sterility, the pill, unfertileness, unfruitfulness, unproductiveness, vasectomy, withered loins