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surrogacy

/ˈsɜrəɡəsi/
IPA guide

Other forms: surrogacies

Surrogacy is the act of taking the place of another person, particularly by agreeing to give birth to a baby on behalf of someone else.

Along with adoption, surrogacy is one of the ways people who can't become pregnant and carry a baby themselves are able to become parents. A surrogate is paid to fill the pregnancy role, and after the birth, the child is raised by the person or couple who hired the surrogate. The Latin root of surrogacy is surrogatus, "put in another's place."

Definitions of surrogacy
  1. noun
    the state of becoming pregnant and birthing a child on behalf of another
  2. noun
    (law) the office of a person who grants legal documents
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