breastfeed

USAGE SUMMARY

"breastfeed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the act of a mother nursing her child with her own breast milk. Example Sentence: All mothers should be given the opportunity to breastfeed their babies if they choose to do so.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Plus I already feel terrible about everything – about working too hard, about not being able to breastfeed, about leaving my wife with too much responsibility – so the last thing I need is a deliberate barrage of guilt-trips from strangers whenever I venture online.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's hard to return to work before six months if you follow recommendations that you should breastfeed your baby for this time".

The Guardian - Money

All are protesting against Farage, who last December backed the decision of Claridge's hotel to ask a breastfeeding woman to cover up, saying that mothers should "perhaps sit in the corner" when they breastfeed.

The Guardian

One outreach project, run by Casa Jackson, is to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children.

The Guardian

We spent ages beforehand minimising the amount of damage we'd make – abandoning the pram in favour of a baby carrier, cramming all the assembled going-out paraphernalia into tiny satchels, deliberately picking a quiet train, and finding the most obscured seats in case he needed to breastfeed – and hoped against hope that he wouldn't cry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You know what they do to people who don't breastfeed in jail, huh?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Others fear that if bottlefeeding becomes a badge of infection, even women who know they are infected will continue to breastfeed to avoid being stigmatised.In this section Back to the bottle?

The Economist

This is entirely separate from the issue of breastfeeding, since women continue to breastfeed after solid foods are introduced.

The Economist

While many male conductors have a reputation for virility, their female colleagues are more likely to be the subject of gossip about whether they breastfeed or not.But things are changing, and young Asian musicians are leading the way.

The Economist

This is because poor feeding practices foremost among them a failure exclusively to breastfeed in the first six months play as big a role in India's malnutrition rates as food shortages.

The Economist

In January, continuing a papal tradition, Francis baptised 33 babies in the chapel and invited mothers to breastfeed while there.Some places are more crowded than the Vatican.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about public health, lactation consultants, or parenting, "breastfeed" is an accurate and respectful term to use.

Common error

Avoid using "breastfeed" interchangeably with general terms like "feed" or "nurse" when the specific method of feeding is relevant. Using the wrong term can lead to miscommunication or confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "breastfeed" is as a verb. It describes the action of a mother feeding her baby with milk from her breast. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a standard and well-understood term in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "breastfeed" is a verb describing the act of feeding a baby directly from the breast. As verified by Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "nurse a baby" or "suckle a child", "breastfeed" is a widely accepted and understood term. When writing, it's crucial to use "breastfeed" precisely to avoid confusion with general feeding terms. The usage of "breastfeed" typically carries a neutral tone and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nurse a baby

This alternative focuses on the act of nursing from the mother's perspective.

suckle a child

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic way to say "breastfeed".

give breast milk

This alternative emphasizes the provision of breast milk to the baby.

feed at the breast

This alternative highlights the location of feeding.

provide breast milk

Similar to "give breast milk", but with a slightly more formal tone.

lactate

This alternative refers to the physiological process of producing milk, often implying breastfeeding.

nurse from the breast

Similar to "feed at the breast", emphasizing the action of nursing.

mother's milk feeding

This alternative describes the type of feeding provided.

infant suckling

This alternative emphasizes the baby's action of suckling.

express breast milk

This alternative describes pumping breast milk instead of feeding directly.

FAQs

What does it mean to "breastfeed" a baby?

To "breastfeed" means to feed a baby directly from the mother's breast, providing them with breast milk.

What are some synonyms for "breastfeed"?

Synonyms for "breastfeed" include "nurse a baby", "suckle a child", and "give breast milk".

Is it appropriate to use "breastfeed" in formal writing?

Yes, "breastfeed" is an appropriate and commonly used term in both formal and informal contexts when discussing infant feeding.

What is the difference between "breastfeed" and "bottle-feed"?

"Breastfeed" refers to feeding a baby directly from the breast, while "bottle-feed" involves feeding a baby with a bottle containing formula or expressed breast milk.