foster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Official, Legal
Quick answer
What does “foster” mean?
to encourage, promote, or help the development of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to encourage, promote, or help the development of something; or to care for a child who is not one's own by birth for a period of time.
To nurture, sustain, or maintain a condition, relationship, or feeling. In legal/administrative contexts, refers specifically to the state-sponsored system of care for children separated from their biological families.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Both use the term identically in legal/social care contexts and figurative uses.
Connotations
Identical connotations of care and promotion. In both regions, the primary association is with the child care system.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in UK English due to more common public discourse around 'foster care' and related social services.
Grammar
How to Use “foster” in a Sentence
foster + noun (e.g., foster innovation)foster + noun + preposition (e.g., foster collaboration between departments)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foster” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The charity aims to foster community spirit in the neighbourhood.
- They decided to foster a teenager who needed a stable home.
American English
- The program fosters innovation among young engineers.
- She has fostered several children over the years.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'foster' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'foster' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He lived with his foster family until he was eighteen.
- The foster system is under immense pressure.
American English
- They became foster parents after completing the training.
- The agency placed the child in a foster home.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe promoting innovation, teamwork, or a positive corporate culture.
Academic
Common in social sciences, education, and psychology to discuss nurturing skills, environments, or development.
Everyday
Primarily associated with the system of taking care of children who are not your own.
Technical
Key term in social work, family law, and child welfare policies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foster”
- Using 'foster' to mean 'find' or 'discover' (e.g., 'I fostered a new restaurant' is wrong). Confusing 'foster' (verb/adjective) with 'forester' (noun, a different job). Incorrect preposition: 'foster for something' instead of 'foster something'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fostering is typically a temporary arrangement where the state retains legal responsibility. Adoption is a permanent legal process that transfers all parental rights and responsibilities.
No. While its most specific use is for child care, it is frequently used figuratively to mean 'encourage the development of' almost anything (e.g., ideas, relationships, feelings).
It is neutral to formal. In the context of child care, it is the standard official term. In figurative use (foster cooperation), it is common in professional and academic writing.
It is most commonly used as a verb ('to foster a child', 'to foster trust') and as an adjective in compounds ('foster parent', 'foster home').
to encourage, promote, or help the development of something.
Foster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to foster a grudge”
- “to be in foster care (not a true idiom but a fixed phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FOSTER parent providing FOOD and a SHELTER to a child, fostering their growth.
Conceptual Metaphor
NURTURING IS GROWING PLANTS (cultivate an idea, foster growth).
Practice
Quiz
What is the meaning of 'foster' in the sentence: 'They decided to foster a child.'?