mom
noun
a person’s mother or one’s mother.
mom
1 American
[mom]
/ mɒm /
noun
-
moms
plural
-
a person’s mother or one’s mother.
-
a term of endearment used to refer to a woman or girl who is admired: She came on stage at the beginning of the concert, and I was like, MOM.
Obviously she has no kids, but she is such a mom.
She came on stage at the beginning of the concert, and I was like, MOM.
All her friends call her “mom” even though she just started middle school.
adjective
verb (used with object)
-
to act as a mother toward; act maternally toward, sometimes in an excessive way: I think I just got mommed by my cat.
She just mommed me with advice.
I think I just got mommed by my cat.
She totally mommed those bullies.
-
to refer to (an admired woman or girl) as “mom”.
My friends mommed the selfie I just posted.
verb (used without object)
-
to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally, sometimes in an excessive way: She mommed out hard after I came home late.
I like the way she moms.
She mommed out hard after I came home late.
-
(of a woman or girl) to refer to an admired woman or girl as “mom”.
Whenever I comment on photos of my friends, I mom.
m.o.m.
2
American
abbreviation
mom
British
/ mɒm /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mom
First recorded in 1845–50; short for momma
Explanation
Mom is what many Americans call their mothers. Mothers with young children hear this word about 10,000 times a day, usually all in a row. Mom. Mom. Mom. You get the idea. Mom is a very common informal word in the U.S. for “mother,” shortened from momma or mommy, an even more childish nickname for your mother. If you’re talking directly to your mom, using “mom” like a name, capitalize it – "Hi, Mom!" If you’re talking about her or another mom, don’t – "Hi, other person’s mom." In other English-speaking parts of the world, people might use mum instead.
Vocabulary lists containing mom
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"I desperately wanted her to just be my mom," the actress said.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
“Instead of mom or dad missing work twice,” Cassidy said, parents could have to “miss work or take vacation or personal leave six times.”
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
“Hiking is a walking meditation, a way to carry everything we need,” my mom told me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
“I’ve never seen my kid’s face go completely green,” said Croteau, a “digital nomad” mom who’s now based in Syros.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Despite that, I know I’m not going to be able to resist the new recipe that Zara’s mom wants me to taste test: gluten-free baklava.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
After the podcast host shared her efforts on social media, many future moms commented with their registry links.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
But these two events share unexpected connective tissue — moms seeking to expand their athletic identities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Granola hippies have aligned with libertarians and suburban moms to battle the corporate interests of the agriculture and energy industries.
From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026
But much more often, it’s simply a necessity — one that’s erased when lionizing the chill moms and the wild summers.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
Other moms and dads are dressed in power suits and shoes that glisten.
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
