foster care

noun

: a situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by a foster parent
children placed in foster care

Examples of foster care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Simone eventually went into foster care, while Devon dropped out of college to care for her. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 23 May 2025 The 2018 family comedy — now streaming on Netflix — stars Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as Pete and Ellie Wagner, respectively, a couple who set their eyes on expanding their family through the foster care system. Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 20 May 2025 The suit, filed on behalf of more than 9,000 Tennessee foster children, involves 13 foster children, aged 1 to 16, who seek to represent the interests of the state's broader foster care system. Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 Topics like food insecurity, social services, foster care, adoption, bullying, not having health insurance, aliens, and top secret CIA missions are depicted. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 20 May 2025 These include the executive director of academics, the executive director of student support initiatives, the assistant director of climate and discipline, a director of compensation, a budget analyst, a foster care supervisor and a child abuse and neglect prevention supervisor. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025 Ultimately, the chief justice analogized the case to the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling that Philadelphia couldn’t exclude a religious agency from its foster care system. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 30 Apr. 2025 When a child enters foster care in San Diego County, their life is turned upside-down. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025 Eventually, Billy tries to warn the foster care headquarters, managed by a kindly woman named Wendy (Sally-Anne Upton), that Laura is trying to sabotage Billy. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foster care was in 1899

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Cite this Entry

“Foster care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foster%20care. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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