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foster mother

American  

noun

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

  2. a nurse.


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

"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 mother

before 1000; Middle English; Old English

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:

K's foster mother said she would "support her all the time".

From BBC Mar. 12, 2026

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

The foster mother, who told The Times she did not want to be interviewed but talked from her doorstep in Palmdale, said she had been trying to adopt Justin and his two siblings.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 22, 2024

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

With that little reminder from him, I know the foster mother is wrong about me.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

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