mom

¹ American  

[mom] / mɒm /

noun

1. a person’s mother or one’s mother.

2. a term of endearment used to refer to a woman or girl who is admired: She came on stage at the beginning of the concert, and I was like, MOM.

   Obviously she has no kids, but she is such a mom.

   She came on stage at the beginning of the concert, and I was like, MOM.

   All her friends call her “mom” even though she just started middle school.

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adjective

1. beautiful or stylish; amazing; to be admired: She’s so mom in that movie.

   That outfit is mom!

   She’s so mom in that movie.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as a mother toward; act maternally toward, sometimes in an excessive way: I think I just got mommed by my cat.

   She just mommed me with advice.

   I think I just got mommed by my cat.

   She totally mommed those bullies.

2. to refer to (an admired woman or girl) as “mom”.

   My friends mommed the selfie I just posted.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally, sometimes in an excessive way: She mommed out hard after I came home late.

   I like the way she moms.

   She mommed out hard after I came home late.

2. (of a woman or girl) to refer to an admired woman or girl as “mom”.

   Whenever I comment on photos of my friends, I mom.

m.o.m. ² American  

abbreviation

1. middle of month.

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mom British  

/ mɒm /

noun

1. an informal word for mother 1

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Etymology

Origin of mom

First recorded in 1845–50; short for momma

Explanation

Mom is what many Americans call their mothers. Mothers with young children hear this word about 10,000 times a day, usually all in a row. Mom. Mom. Mom. You get the idea. Mom is a very common informal word in the U.S. for “mother,” shortened from momma or mommy, an even more childish nickname for your mother. If you’re talking directly to your mom, using “mom” like a name, capitalize it – "Hi, Mom!" If you’re talking about her or another mom, don’t – "Hi, other person’s mom." In other English-speaking parts of the world, people might use mum instead.

Example Sentences

This is especially true now that the kind of storage facilities that 30 years ago were mom and pop operations, with mom and pop living on the premises, are managed remotely by large corporations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

“My dad is 81 and mom is 70,” he said, adding that he can see the day coming soon when the power-of-attorney documents they have set up are going to be put to use.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

“It’s a heartbreak to my mom and my dad,” Boss said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

She is a single mom to a 14- and a 17-year old.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

He remembered the smooth tóshchíín and how his mom ate it at the luncheon.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• grandmother
• mommy
• parent