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
Both biological parents and those with parental responsibility over children, including legal guardians and foster parents, would be eligible for the exemption.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Not long after, his foster parents asked if Claire and Eric could watch him on weekends.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
For those unfamiliar, what’s the process to become a foster parent?
—Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Wilma’s last foster parents picked Krissi up from the hospital and later adopted her.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foster parent
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Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Not long after, his foster parents asked if Claire and Eric could watch him on weekends.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
For those unfamiliar, what’s the process to become a foster parent?
—Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Wilma’s last foster parents picked Krissi up from the hospital and later adopted her.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 21 Sep. 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 30 Oct. 2025.
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