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
Prosecutor Tracy Prior, chief of the district attorney’s Family Protection Division, said the office has long worked with Olive Crest, which provides help from toy drives to lining up foster parents.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Curiously, given this flurry of legislative protections, lawmakers haven’t yet gotten around to protecting C.C.
C.C’s mother was addicted to drugs, a fact that apparently did not stop the Florida Department of Children and Families from licensing her as a foster parent.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Improvements touted by the county include bolstering the vetting of foster parents and probation staffers and winding down the use of group homes like MacLaren Children’s Center.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Becoming a foster parent often involves quick preparation.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foster parent
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.
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Curiously, given this flurry of legislative protections, lawmakers haven’t yet gotten around to protecting C.C.
C.C’s mother was addicted to drugs, a fact that apparently did not stop the Florida Department of Children and Families from licensing her as a foster parent.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Improvements touted by the county include bolstering the vetting of foster parents and probation staffers and winding down the use of group homes like MacLaren Children’s Center.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Becoming a foster parent often involves quick preparation.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 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 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share