mother figure

American  

[muhth-er fig-yer] / ˈmʌð ər ˌfɪg yər /

noun

1. an emotional substitute for one's mother, especially one who fulfills parental functions such as protection, authority, support, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of mother figure

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Like that earlier work, “The Thanksgiving Visitor” is also drawn from Capote’s boyhood within a clan of eccentric relatives that included an older cousin and mother figure known as Sook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Throughout her 66-year marriage to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Sirikit carved a dual reputation as a glittering fashionista and the nation's caring mother figure.

From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025

Huntr/x also has a member in its ranks who’s passing for human at the insistence of her mother figure, much like Hailee Steinfeld’s Mary, Stack’s ex-lover, passes for white in “Sinners” at Stack’s insistence.

From Salon • Jul. 11, 2025

It is now a contest between an impulsive and aggressive father archetype and a very different archetype: the strong, no-nonsense, but compassionate working mother figure.

From Slate • Aug. 18, 2024

With me as the worried mother figure who consoled him over bad breakups, and him as the sensitive kid who listened and supported me through my meltdowns.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi