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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.

When Allan's foster child arrived, he was "scared, very unsure - not knowing how long it's going to last".

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2025

“Just seeing the next generation, the reason why I’ve been more optimistic about having a foster child of my own, is about being able to see them grow.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2024

From his time as a foster child, Saka said: “I know what it’s like to feel uprooted and swept away.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2023

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

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2023

Meanwhile, I'm a temporary substitute, a foster child.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

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.