foster care

noun

: a situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by a foster parent
children placed in foster care

Examples of foster care 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.
Police said Jet Blue is now safe and in foster care. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026 Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, D-San Francisco, said her bill, AB 1846, would allow judges to place a child with a family member at any point during the foster care process. Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026 The average length of stay in foster care is four to six weeks. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 Wednesday's Child has helped find homes for hundreds of waiting children and continues to raise awareness about adoption from foster care. CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 Those forced to navigate laborious and time-consuming work documentation include veterans, people experiencing homelessness, young adults aging out of foster care, adults ages 54-64 and parents with children ages 13-18. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026 Bogan did not know why the baby was put into foster care. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026 The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you. Mare Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026 The audit found that 16% of Kansas students who received free meals qualified by submitting an application, while the vast majority qualified automatically, including homeless students, those in foster care, and those whose families were on Medicaid or received monthly food assistance. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foster care was in 1899

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foster care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foster%20care. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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