birth mother

noun

: the mother of a child when the child is born
specifically : a woman who gave birth to a child who has been adopted
They had turned to an open adoption after pursuing infertility treatments for 18 years, and the birth mother had agreed to relinquish custody at the hospital. Emily Nussbaum

Examples of birth mother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Jean was a toddler, her birth mother filed for divorce, alleging that her husband was a heavy drinker who hoarded his wages and verbally abused her. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 According to the star, her birth mother was an exotic dancer and her father was a stock car racer and musician. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025 Hannah worried that her birth mother would find her. Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025 Like her adoptive parents, Barbara Cowan (née Crane) and Paul Gilbert, who were actors, Gilbert revealed that her biological parents also came from a background in entertainment — her birth mother was an exotic dancer and her birth father was a stock car racer and musician. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for birth mother

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of birth mother was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“Birth mother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20mother. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

birth mother

noun
birth moth·​er
: the woman who gave birth to a child especially as distinguished from the child's adoptive mother
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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