mother figure
noun
: an older woman who is respected and admired like a mother
Camp counselors are mother figures to many of the girls at the camp.
Examples of mother figure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The show premiered Saturday, April 12, and follows three successful Black men on a quest for love—each with a very opinionated mother (or mother figure) tagging along for the entire ride.
—
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Apr. 2025
Her funny magic sidekick and villainous mother figure steal the show.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 21 Mar. 2025
The teacher has more life experience, but Abigail becomes, at 17, her mentor and mother figure, bringing Erica to a trans support group and complimenting the nail polish she’s been brave enough to wear in public.
—Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
Though May 11 — the date Mother’s Day falls on this year — might seem lightyears away, don’t grow too complacent and make the all-too-common mistake of forgetting to secure Mom, or the mother figure in your life, a gift until the very last moment.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2025
Pink Queen 2-Piece Matching Long Sleeve Lounge Set $54 $25 at Amazon
Looking for an early Mother’s Day gift to grab for the mom-to-be or mother figure in your life?
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Her adolescent sexuality and vulnerability catch the attention of the story’s mother figure, who blames Edie for the affair.
—The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
From there, their bond grew stronger, as Tara sees Willa as a mother figure now.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025
This prevents Adams from showing the disarming quality that Helena Bonham Carter brought to the eccentric mother figure in the 2010 Toast, an unconventional comic biography of chef Nigel Slater’s maternal fixation.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
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.
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Apr. 2025
Her funny magic sidekick and villainous mother figure steal the show.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 21 Mar. 2025
The teacher has more life experience, but Abigail becomes, at 17, her mentor and mother figure, bringing Erica to a trans support group and complimenting the nail polish she’s been brave enough to wear in public.
—Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
Though May 11 — the date Mother’s Day falls on this year — might seem lightyears away, don’t grow too complacent and make the all-too-common mistake of forgetting to secure Mom, or the mother figure in your life, a gift until the very last moment.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2025
Pink Queen 2-Piece Matching Long Sleeve Lounge Set $54 $25 at Amazon
Looking for an early Mother’s Day gift to grab for the mom-to-be or mother figure in your life?
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Her adolescent sexuality and vulnerability catch the attention of the story’s mother figure, who blames Edie for the affair.
—The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
From there, their bond grew stronger, as Tara sees Willa as a mother figure now.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025
This prevents Adams from showing the disarming quality that Helena Bonham Carter brought to the eccentric mother figure in the 2010 Toast, an unconventional comic biography of chef Nigel Slater’s maternal fixation.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Mother figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mother%20figure. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share