Definitions

mother

[muhth-er] / ˈmʌð ər /

NOUN

female person who has borne children

Synonyms

STRONGEST

mom parent

STRONG

ancestor creator mommy origin predecessor progenitor source

WEAK

child-bearer forebearer procreator

Antonyms

STRONG

descendant effect end result

WEAK

father

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for mother?

There are many synonyms for mother. The most common is mom, which is an informal, familiar version of mother. The equivalent mum is commonly used in the U.K. and other places. An even more informal and familiar word is mommy, which is especially used by children. A similarly informal word is mama (and its alternate spellings momma and mamma). All of these terms should be capitalized when they’re used as a way of addressing someone (in other words, when they’re used as a name or a substitute for a name). A mother is a parent. A term that specifically references the role of a mother in bearing a child is child-bearer. The term birthing parent is sometimes used as a gender-neutral term in the context of pregnancy and childbirth. A mother who’s the leader of a family might be called a matriarch. Because mothers are traditionally associated with nurture and caregiving, related words are sometimes used as synonyms, such as nurturer and caregiver. Mother is also sometimes used as a verb meaning to care for someone as a mother or like a mother. Sometimes, it’s used in a negative way that implies that a person is smothering or being overbearing toward the person, as in Please don’t mother me—I can take care of myself.

How do you use mother in a sentence?

Mother is most commonly used as a noun, but it can also be a verb. As a noun, it’s capitalized when it’s used as a name or a substitute for a name. Here are some examples of mother in a sentence:

I’ve always wanted to be a mother.
You should really listen to Mother—she has your best interests in mind.
It’s just her nature to try to mother anyone who looks like they need help.

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.

Susan Stamberg, a ‘founding mother’ of National Public Radio and the first female broadcaster to host a national news program, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

"Y’all see a ‘lazy mother’ I see a mother investing in herself so she can be the best possible mother for her son," one person wrote, in part. "This mother is amazing."

From Fox News • Dec. 14, 2021

In her closing statement, she said, “Navajo Code Talkers in World War II used the Navajo word for ‘our mother’ as code for ‘the United States.’

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2021

"The first words out of his mouth were, 'His poor mother'," Dick said.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2019

“Yes. Too nice. What actually happened was that the ocean mother’ took my real mother away.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman

Vocabulary lists containing mother

The Mother of All Lists: Mater, Matr

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

mother

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing mother

The Mother of All Lists: Mater, Matr