Jump to:

• mom
  mom

  noun

  a person’s mother or one’s mother.
• m.o.m.
  m.o.m.

  abbreviation

  middle of month.

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.

---

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.

---

mom British  

/ mɒm /

noun

1. an informal word for mother 1

---

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

My mom was like, “There’s always going to be someone coming up behind you. Make room for them.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Cheers to Delta for the speedy, reliable wheelchair service I witnessed traveling with my 84-year-old mom this month.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

With only the very poor or very rich having any way of paying for long-term care, that leaves the families of the broad middle class struggling financially and emotionally to keep mom and dad safe.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

I read a description of the series that summed things up like this: A divorced mom gets caught up in a perilous web of blackmail, murder and youth soccer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

I reply that we’re back and fine, and I let Jonah use my phone to text his mom, too.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• grandmother
• mommy
• parent