foster mother

American  

noun

1. a woman who takes the place of a mother in raising a child.

2. a nurse.

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foster mother British  

noun

1. a woman who looks after or brings up a child or children as a mother, in place of the natural or adoptive mother

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Etymology

Origin of foster mother

before 1000; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

As Laura, the foster mother in “Bring Her Back,” Ms. Hawkins turns the smile up to terrifying.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 2025

It was around the same time that PJ’s foster mother implored a local social worker to help him find his birth mother.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2025

Justin and his two older siblings lived in a different home with a foster mother.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025

Those federal disability payments would have amounted to an estimated $123,000 over 13 years for Alexus Brandon, her foster mother Brenda Keith said.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024

His foster mother must’ve been in there because the curtains were spread open and let in the orange glow of sunrise.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova