foster parent
noun
plural foster parents
1
: a person temporarily serving as a parent for a child who has lost or been removed from a parent's care and who is not the person's own biological child
specifically, US
: such a person who has been trained and approved by a government or social-service agency
Many foster parents … continue to act selflessly as important way stations for at-risk kids while their biological parents get their lives together. —
Timothy Roche
Timothy Roche Foster parents adopt children in Ventura County [California] more often than relatives do. —Stephanie Hoops
Stephanie Hoops 2
a
: a person temporarily caring for an animal (such as one that is injured or awaiting adoption)
The 36-year-old Owosso [Michigan] native became a foster parent to dogs through the shelter five years ago.—Anamaria Dickerson
Anamaria Dickerson
b
: an animal caring for an unrelated offspring
Cowbirds deposit their eggs in the nests of other birds, and unknowing foster parents raise baby cowbirds along with their own young.—The Tuscaloosa (Alabama) News
The Tuscaloosa (Alabama) NewsTom hoped the little eaglet could be placed into an active nest, adopted and raised by wild foster parents, and could ultimately fly free.—Massachusetts Wildlife
Massachusetts WildlifeExamples of foster parent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of those foster parents, including grandparents or people otherwise related to their tiny charges, even lacked transportation to get to available resources.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
While in the care of the foster parent, the baby developed new bruises and Harper evaluated him again.
—Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 30 June 2025
And in early June, a golden retriever mix named Amber returned home after being declared missing by her foster parents in late April.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 5 June 2025
On average, a foster parent is paid about $6,000 a month.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foster parent
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Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
While in the care of the foster parent, the baby developed new bruises and Harper evaluated him again.
—Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 30 June 2025
And in early June, a golden retriever mix named Amber returned home after being declared missing by her foster parents in late April.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 5 June 2025
On average, a foster parent is paid about $6,000 a month.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foster parent
Cite this Entry
“Foster parent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foster%20parent. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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