den mother

American  

noun

1. (in the Boy Scouts) a woman who serves as an adult leader or supervisor of a cub scout den.

2. Informal. a woman who serves as an adviser or protector to a group of people.

---

Etymology

Origin of den mother

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

den mother

Poised over everyone like a den mother is Susie Wiles, his chief of staff, who reads Mr. Trump’s moods impeccably.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

But mostly let’s go with the freak-out fun of the four telekinetic weirdos and their den mother, Raleigh, played by Laurie Metcalf in a stringy salt-and-pepper wig that’s almost as frightening as she is.

From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

For Seattle jazz musicians of the late 1940s, Thurlow was not only a respected singer but a hip den mother who made it her business to connect everyone on the scene.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2022

Christina Ricci, who notably played Wednesday in the 1991 film "The Addams Family," also makes an appearance as Marylin Thornhill, a den mother to the female students at Nevermore Academy.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2022

Bronwyn acted as den mother, rounding us up every time one of us strayed to get a closer look at a stall of brightly colored pinwheels or steaming boiled candy.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs