# mom

/ˈmɑm/ (US) · /mˈɒm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mom
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mother

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal · American English

a casual word for your mother.

For teachers: an informal term for one's mother, predominantly used in American and Canadian English.

- I am going to visit my mom for her birthday this weekend.
- After the graduation ceremony, he took a photo with his mom to commemorate the achievement.

### 2. pet owner

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a woman who owns and cares for a pet like a child.

For teachers: an informal designation for a female pet owner, implying a maternal relationship with the animal.

- As a proud dog mom, she buys her puppy a gift every Christmas.
- The local community of cat moms organized a fundraiser to support the neighborhood animal shelter.

### 3. to care for

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to look after someone in a kind and protective way, like a mother does.

For teachers: to treat or care for someone with maternal affection or overprotective attention.

- Stop trying to mom me; I can cook my own dinner.
- She tended to mom her younger colleagues, often bringing them home-cooked meals during busy weeks at the office.

## Examples

- I need to call my mom today.
- My mom always makes a huge dinner for the whole family on Sunday afternoons.
- While the formal term is mother, most children in the United States address their female parent as mom throughout their adult lives to maintain a sense of familial warmth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.