Jump to:

• mom
  mom

  noun

  a person’s mother or one’s mother.
• m.o.m.
  m.o.m.

  abbreviation

  middle of month.

mom

¹ American  

[mom] / mɒm /

noun

1. a person’s mother or one’s mother.

2. 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

1. beautiful or stylish; amazing; to be admired: She’s so mom in that movie.

   That outfit is mom!

   She’s so mom in that movie.

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

2. to refer to (an admired woman or girl) as “mom”.

   My friends mommed the selfie I just posted.

verb (used without object)

1. 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.

2. (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

1. middle of month.

---

mom British  

/ mɒm /

noun

1. an informal word for mother 1

---

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.

Example Sentences

It wasn’t just Mom and Pop’s money that the railroads liked.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

"Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn't have enough money to go through the Harlem tunnel, when we were looking for gas money, parking spaces," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Living apart from an aging parent brings worries: How do you know if Mom or Dad has fallen?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

“My Mom made pies using the lemonade,” wrote another.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

Mom nods and her eyes flicker to Jonah.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• grandmother
• mommy
• parent