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 Children born via surrogate mothers in the United States may have the client couple's name on birth certificates, and often take the child away from his or her birth mother immediately. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024 His dad knew only a few basic details of McNulty’s origins: He’d been adopted at the St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center, the birth mother was younger than the father, and the father had attended Wayne State University. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 17 Oct. 2024 Catch up quick: Born June 28 at Woodland Park Zoo, he was transferred to Louisville Zoo in Kentucky after he was rejected by his birth mother, Akenji. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024 In the show's final season, the meet their unborn baby's birth mother Erica (Anna Faris), who unexpectedly delivers twins Jack and Erica (named for Faris's character) in the show’s final episode. John Russell, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for birth mother 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'birth mother.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near birth mother

Cite this Entry

“Birth mother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20mother. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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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