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Showing results for queen mother. Search instead for Queen+mother.
Synonyms

queen mother

American  

noun

  1. a queen dowager who is mother of a reigning sovereign.

queen mother British  

noun

  1. the widow of a former king who is also the mother of the reigning sovereign

"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 queen mother

First recorded in 1570–80

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.

"I just want to do something for the queen mother and the royal family," added the vendor, dressed head-to-toe in black while fielding calls from suppliers in Thailand and China.

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

But it turned out to be her sister, Princess Margaret, and the queen mother.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2023

There was also the position of the kentake, or queen mother.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Bassett, who portrays the grieving queen mother in Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” sequel, has been nominated for a supporting actress Oscar.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2023

Above our heads, gulls wheel and cry, unaware that the queen mother nearly drowned just a dozen yards below.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

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.