fosterling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Formal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “fosterling” mean?
A child who is fostered or cared for in place of their parents.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A child who is fostered or cared for in place of their parents.
A person, animal, or thing that is reared, nurtured, or promoted in a supportive environment outside of its natural or original context; a ward or protégé.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes a historical, literary, or fairy-tale context (e.g., stories of kings, knights, and foundlings). Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical novels.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. 'Foster child' is the universal modern term.
Grammar
How to Use “fosterling” in a Sentence
[fosterling of + (institution/person)][fosterling + verb (was raised/cared for)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fosterling” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The young fosterling was raised in the castle alongside the prince.
- In the old tale, the fairy queen took the mortal fosterling to the Otherworld.
American English
- The novel's hero began life as an unknown fosterling in a distant household.
- The conservation program treated the rescued eagle chick as a precious fosterling.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, might appear in historical, literary, or social studies texts discussing medieval or ancient kinship systems.
Everyday
Not used. 'Foster kid' or 'foster child' is used instead.
Technical
Not used in legal or social work contexts; precise legal terms like 'looked-after child' or 'foster child' are used.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fosterling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fosterling”
- Using it in modern, casual conversation. Confusing it with 'foundling' (an abandoned child).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in core meaning, but 'fosterling' is archaic and literary, while 'foster child' is the standard modern term.
A fosterling is a child being raised by non-parents in a fostering arrangement. A foundling is specifically an infant that has been abandoned by its parents and discovered by others.
Yes, metaphorically or in literary contexts, e.g., 'The wolf pack accepted the lone cub as a fosterling.'
It has been largely replaced by the more transparent compound 'foster child'. The '-ling' suffix (meaning 'one belonging to') is less productive in Modern English, giving the word an old-fashioned feel.
A child who is fostered or cared for in place of their parents.
Fosterling is usually literary, formal, archaic in register.
Fosterling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒstəlɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːstərlɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a young bird in a FOSTER nest-LING (ling = small one). A small one being fostered.
Conceptual Metaphor
NURTURING IS PARENTING (even of non-biological entities). An organization can be the 'fosterling' of a founder's vision.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'fosterling' be MOST appropriately used today?