fairy godmother

American  

[fair-ee god-muhth-er] / ˈfɛər i ˈgɒdˌmʌð ər /

noun

• fairy godmothers
  plural

1. a kindly sponsor or guardian; godmother.

2. a fairy-tale character who uses magical powers to help a hero or heroine.

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fairy godmother British  

noun

1. a character in certain fairy stories who brings unexpected benefits to the hero or heroine

2. any benefactress, esp an unknown one

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fairy godmother Idioms  

1. A generous benefactor, as in An anonymous fairy godmother donated the money for the new organ. This expression alludes to a stock character in fairy tales such as Cinderella, who gives unexpected and much needed assistance. [Late 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fairy godmothers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fairy godmother

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fairy godmother

As Roy writes, "The LGBTQ+ movement was young in India. Hungry for a queer history, it seemed to have seized on Chapal Bhaduri to be its fairy godmother."

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026

In “Cinderella,” she said, the fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a carriage, and Koskey said she’s hoping her own fairy godmother will turn “a pumpkin into my old house again.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

A kind of deus ex machina, he pops into the novel at key points, offering incredible amounts of money like a possibly sinister fairy godmother in a Brothers Grimm tale.

From Seattle Times ● May 15, 2024

If your greatest wish is for McDonald’s to offer a Luther Burger, your fairy godmother has good news.

From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2024

“I was her fairy godmother too,” Mandy said.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine