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Synonyms

foster child

American  
[faw-ster chahyld, fos-ter] / ˈfɔ stər ˈtʃaɪld, ˈfɒs tər /

noun

  1. a child raised by someone who is not their biological or adoptive parent.

  2. a needy child, such as one living in an impoverished country, supported or aided by contribution to a specific charity.


foster child British  

noun

  1. a child looked after temporarily or brought up by people other than its natural or adoptive parents

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of foster child

1150–1200; Middle English fostercild

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:

At first, Sharon and Tim had "some very difficult times" with the foster child, who the BBC is not naming.

From BBC Apr. 5, 2025

Him being a foster child feels like a significant piece of things.

From New York Times Jun. 14, 2023

As a result of the past incidents, the agency now requires at least two caseworkers for every foster child in hotels, as well as security guards nearby, he said.

From Los Angeles Times May 28, 2023

The state pays Amerigroup a fixed amount per foster child to provide coverage and hold down costs.

From Seattle Times Jan. 30, 2023

“We can take her as a foster child while they work out the details.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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