godmother
Americannoun
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godmothers
plural
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a woman who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
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any female sponsor or guardian.
verb (used with object)
noun
Usage
What does godmother mean? A godmother is a woman who’s a godparent—a person who has pledged to help with the upbringing of a child, especially in a religious way. In some denominations of Christianity, when a child is baptized, they are sponsored by (usually two) adults who pledge to help in this way. Those adults are the child’s godparents, and the child is their godchild. Godparents are often related to their godchildren (an aunt might be her nephew’s godmother, for example), but they don’t need to be. Godparents also often pledge to become the godchild’s guardian if needed (in the event that the child’s parents die). These terms are all sometimes applied outside of a religious context—parents may choose close relatives or friends to act as godparents for their children without any religious aspect to the relationship. The word godmother is also sometimes used in a more general way to refer to a woman, especially one who’s older, who serves as a person’s mentor, protector, or simply someone who shows them kindness. The term fairy godmother is used in this way. Godmother can also be used in a somewhat figurative way to refer to a woman who’s considered the originator or main guiding force of a movement, school of thought, art form, or industry. Example: Joann is a wonderful godmother and spoils all of her godchildren.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of godmother
before 1000; Middle English; Old English godmōdor; see origin at god, mother 1
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:
Listen to the pop-country godmother: If you’re enjoying the country-crossover renaissance exemplified by Ella Langley’s chart-topping song “Choosin’ Texas,” you’re in for a treat: Langley’s mentor, Miranda Lambert, has a new album out.
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
Fei-Fei Li, the so-called godmother of artificial intelligence, is joining AMD.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
His godmother was Queen Elizabeth II and his brother-in-law was Robert Fellowes, who served as the queen’s private secretary in the 1990s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Prince William, representing his father King Charles III, attended the funeral alongside the Princess Royal, who was there in a personal capacity as godmother to Norway's new monarch.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Mary became a combination of teacher, big sister, and fairy godmother, helping her girls with algebra homework, sewing dresses for their proms, and steering them toward college.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Two of the midwives went on to become Penny's godmothers.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The entire vibe around Sunday was fueled by female empowerment thanks to riot grrrl godmothers Bikini Kill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Ronni Lundy, one of the godmothers of contemporary Appalachian cuisine, writes about this in her 2016 cookbook “Victuals.”
From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2025
In the following years, the women started enrolling tens of thousands, earning the nickname of “Madrinas del Obamacare,” or “Obamacare” godmothers, evoking the crucial role godparents play in Latino culture.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 16, 2023
Our godmothers had bathed us with sweet-smelling soap and were dressing us in new outfits that Grosie had approved.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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.
