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foster parent

foster parent

42 3.2
A person who cares for a child instead of the child's parents without adopting them
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔstər ˈpɛrənt/
translation icon : padre de acogida
  • The boy has been living with foster parents in Sugarland.
  • become a foster parent
  • training for foster parents
  • foster parent and foster child

I was given to a couple of foster parents in speak.

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Examples

  • For example, in South Carolina, according to statistics, there are 5,500 foster children and 2,100 foster parents.

    Academic text (2008)
  • In a best-case scenario, suitable foster parents are able and willing to adopt the children.

    Academic text (2003)
  • But I had to play the part for my new foster parents.

  • At least foster parents know how to be parents.

  • My foster parents were great people.

  • Most of our foster parents are really terrific, caring people.

  • I lived in this foster home for six months when my foster parents petitioned the courts of Nebraska for custody.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • After her parents passed away, she was fortunate to find a loving foster parent who provided her with care and support.

  • The organization is looking for new foster parents to help children in need of temporary homes.

  • Many children thrive when placed with compassionate foster parents who prioritize their well-being.

Synonyms

surrogate
vsfoster parent
23 7.2

Acting like a parent for a child when not their parent

is specifically a temporary caregiver replacing the biological caregivers
foster mother
vsfoster parent
14 3.0

A woman who cares for a child who is not her own

is the general caregiver role without specifying the caregiver's gender
foster father
vsfoster parent
5 3.2

A man who cares for and raises a child when the parents cannot

is the general caregiver role not limited by gender
foster-parent
vsfoster parent
1 3.5

A person who cares for a child temporarily in their home but is not the child's legal or birth parent

is the general caregiver role without implying official placement
foster-father
vsfoster parent
3.5

A man who looks after a child who is not his own

is the broader caregiver term, not specifically male
foster-mother
vsfoster parent
3.4

A woman who cares for a child who is not her own

is the wider caregiver concept not tied to female assignment
foster-nurse
vsfoster parent
8.1

A woman who raises another woman's child as her own

is focused on temporary caregiving without implying a nursing role
fosterer
vsfoster parent
4.2

A person who gives a temporary home to a child or animal

is limited to caring for children and does not include animals
father surrogate
vsfoster parent
5.3

A man who acts like a father to someone and cares for them

is usually an arranged temporary caregiver rather than a lifelong role

How Parental

parent
1.0
foster parent
42 3.2
caregiver
  • US
79 3.2
babysitter
234 1.0

Surface Forms

foster parent singular

Morphology

foster + parent

The meaning is directly compositional: 'foster' (non-biological caregiving/placement) modifies 'parent' (a person who raises a child), so a 'foster parent' is plainly a parent who cares for a child without being the biological parent. This noun + modifier pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The term foster parent comes from the old word foster, which meant to feed and raise a child who was 'not their own'. So a foster parent is someone who cares for a child instead of the birth parents but does not 'legally adopt' the child.