queen mother

noun

1. a queen dowager who is mother of a reigning sovereign.

queen mother

noun

1. the widow of a former king who is also the mother of the reigning sovereign

Word History and Origins

Origin of queen mother¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

The queen mother was said to have died with an overdraft at Coutts of more than £2 million; it was settled by her daughter.

From The Daily Beast

The queen mother, like most of the royal family, was relaxed about their relationship.

From The Daily Beast

All our leaders would lose their heads if a single imprudent act allowed their connivance with the queen-mother to be seen.

From Project Gutenberg

This annoyance was not the least among the many which the queen-mother cherished against the young queen.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she seized a bell, at the sound of which one of the queen-mother's maids of honor came running in.

From Project Gutenberg

The young queen and queen-mother maintained a total silence until the arrival of the king and princes.

From Project Gutenberg

She glanced from Christophe to the queen-mother and from the queen-mother back to Christophe,—her face expressing malignant doubt.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• monarch
• ruler