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mom

SayMOM/mɑm/UK/mɒm/

Pluralmoms

Verbmoms, momming, mommed

UK spellingmum

4 meanings of mom

Practice

  1. 1
    own mothernounUSCanadacountable
    A person's mother, as an informal and affectionate word in everyday North American speech.

    She calls her mom every Sunday evening to catch up.

    Both of their moms showed up early to help decorate the hall.

    UsageCapitalized when used as a name (Mom, I'm home), but lower case after a possessive: my mom. Most British speakers say mum.

    Similarmother, mum, mama

    Oppositedad

  2. 2
    pet's ownernouncolloquialcountable
    An adult woman who owns a pet, especially when spoken of affectionately as the animal's parent.

    Every rescue dog at the shelter deserves a patient mom like her.

    As a proud cat mom, she keeps photos of her two tabbies on her desk at work.

    UsageUsually with the animal in front: dog mom, cat mom, a proud cat mom.

    Similarowner

  3. 3
    care forverbcolloquialCanadaUStransitive
    To look after someone in a caring, protective manner, the way a mother would.

    He has a habit of momming his roommates whenever one of them gets sick.

    The team captain likes to mom the new recruits through their first season.

    UsageDoubles the m: momming, mommed. Often a little teasing or annoyed, as in quit momming me.

    Similarmother, nurture, coddle

    Oppositeneglect

    Note

    In Marie Johnston's Finish Line (2019) a mother is "unashamed about momming me"; in Sean Thor Conroe's Fuccboi (2022) the speaker bristles when someone tries "to mom me." Whether the care feels kind or meddling depends on who receives it.

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    his wifenouninformalUSCanada
    Used by a husband as an affectionate term of address or reference for his wife, especially within a family that has children.

    "Ask Mom if she wants to come along," he said, nodding toward his wife.

    Since their first baby arrived, he has called his wife mom almost as often as he uses her name.

    UsageOften used as a name and then capitalized: ask Mom, right, Mom?

    Note

    Here the word changes speakers. A father borrows the children's word and turns it on his wife, naming her by the role she holds in the household rather than by her name. Allstate's 2017 advertisement All Alone has the father say "I don't share it with mom! Right, mom?", first speaking of his wife and then to her. It grows straight out of the everyday word for a mother and keeps that word's informal, North American feel.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • Allstate's advertisement All Alone dates from 2017 and has the father say "Right, mom?". en.wiktionary.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of mom apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

A shortened form of "momma."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact