foster-mother
/'fɔstə,mʌðə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman who acts as a parent to and raises a child who is not her biological or adopted child, typically through a formal or informal fostering arrangement. A foster-mother provides care, support, and a home for a child, often temporarily, on behalf of a child welfare agency or by private agreement.
Usage
- The term "foster-mother" is used to specify the female caregiver in a fostering relationship. It distinguishes her from a biological mother, adoptive mother, or stepmother.
- It is commonly used in legal, social work, and everyday contexts to describe this familial role.
Examples
- Noun:
- After the earthquake, many children found a loving home with a foster-mother.
- Her foster-mother provided the stability and encouragement she needed to succeed in school.
- The agency is looking for a foster-mother for a newborn baby.
Advanced Usage
- "to act as a foster-mother": to take on the role and responsibilities of a foster-mother.
- She decided to act as a foster-mother to her neighbor's children while their parents were recovering from illness.
Variants and Related Words
- Foster parent (n): a general term for an adult who fosters a child (can be male or female).
- Foster father (n): a man who is a foster parent.
- Foster child (n): a child who is being raised by a foster parent.
- Foster care (n): the system or situation in which a child lives with and is cared for by foster parents.
- Foster (v): to bring up a child that is not one's own by birth; to encourage the development of something.
Synonyms
- Surrogate mother: (in some contexts, though this more often refers to a woman who carries a pregnancy for another).
- Guardian: (a broader legal term for someone with responsibility for a child's care).
Antonyms
- Biological mother: the woman who gave birth to the child.
- Birth mother: the woman who is the child's natural mother.
Noun
- a woman who is a foster parent and raises another's child