Origin: Latin suffix -al
Maternal has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
A mother.
"She was overjoyed when her maternal instincts kicked in and she immediately wrapped the baby in a warm blanket."
Of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother; motherly.
"Her maternal instinct kicked in immediately when she saw the crying baby."
In plain English: Maternal means relating to a mother, such as her feelings of love for her child.
"She felt a strong maternal instinct when she helped the lost child find their parents."
Usage: Use maternal to describe traits, behaviors, or relationships that are specifically connected to a mother rather than just being generally caring like "motherly." It is often confused with "paternal," which refers strictly to fathers.
The word maternal entered English in the late Middle Ages, likely borrowed directly from French. It ultimately traces back to a root meaning "related to the mother" that has been used since ancient times.