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.
Veterans, people 24 and under who recently aged out of foster care, and unhoused people are no longer exempt from work requirements. Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 14 Feb. 2026 Many live on their own, some aging out of foster care with no place to go. F. Amanda Tugade, Des Moines Register, 13 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, 11 Feb. 2026 Citywide, many fewer children are in foster care, fewer men are in prison, and far fewer New Yorkers are murdered each year. Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026 One of the women had birthed a child who ended up in foster care. Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 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, 8 Feb. 2026 Set in the mountains of Southern Appalachia, a young boy of Melungeon heritage struggles to find his place in the world through foster care, the opioid crisis, and poverty. Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026 People who were placed in foster care also qualify, the state agency said. Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 5 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

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Cite this Entry

“Foster care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foster%20care. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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