Foster: meaning, definitions and examples

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foster

[ˈfɒstər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

care for

To foster means to care for someone or something, typically a child or young animal, bringing them up as if they were one's own. It involves providing love, support, and guidance to help them grow and develop.

Synonyms

nurture, raise, support.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
foster	This word is often used in the context of promoting growth or development, especially in a supportive or encouraging environment. It is also frequently used in the context of taking care of children who are not biologically yours. They worked hard to foster a sense of community in the neighborhood. The couple decided to foster a child who needed a loving home.
nurture	This word conveys a sense of care, attention, and encouragement given over time to help someone or something grow and develop. It usually has a softer, more emotional connotation and is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Parents play a crucial role in nurturing their children's talents. She has a special ability to nurture young plants.
raise	This word is most commonly used when talking about bringing up children or animals from birth to maturity. It can also be used to discuss elevating something to a higher level or standard. They worked hard to raise their children in a loving environment. He raised the standard of living in the community through various initiatives.
support	This word is generally used to describe the act of providing assistance, encouragement, or resources to help someone or something succeed. It can apply to emotional, financial, or physical forms of assistance. Her family was there to support her throughout the difficult times. The school provides support for students with learning disabilities.

Examples of usage

Her aunt fostered her after her parents passed away.
The organization fosters abandoned puppies until they find forever homes.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

encourage growth

To foster also means to encourage the development or growth of something. It involves promoting or helping something to develop or grow.

Synonyms

cultivate, encourage, promote.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
foster	Use when talking about nurturing or supporting the development of something over time, especially in a protective or caring manner. Parents should foster a love for reading in their children. The organization aims to foster creativity among young artists.
promote	Use when talking about advancing or actively supporting a cause, idea, or product, often in a formal or public manner. The government is working to promote healthy eating. They used social media to promote their new book.
cultivate	Use when focusing on the gradual development or improvement of a skill, quality, or relationship, often implying effort and care. She worked hard to cultivate her public speaking skills. It's important to cultivate good relationships with colleagues.
encourage	Use when you want to give support, confidence, or hope to someone, often through praise or positive reinforcement. Teachers should encourage students to ask questions. Parents can encourage their children by praising their efforts.

Examples of usage

The school aims to foster a love of learning in its students.
The company fosters a culture of creativity and innovation among its employees.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

child placed in care

A foster is a child who is placed in the temporary care of a family or institution. This is usually done when the child's biological parents are unable to care for them.

Synonyms

foster home, placement, temporary care.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
foster	To refer to the act of caring for a child as a temporary guardian, or to promote development or growth in a general sense. They decided to foster a child who needed a safe home. Teachers need to foster a love of reading in their students.
temporary care	To describe a situation where care is provided for a limited period, often used in the context of emergency or short-term arrangements. The organization provides temporary care for children in crisis situations. He was in temporary care while his parents recovered from their accident.
foster home	To describe a home where a child is placed temporarily with a family that is not their biological family. The child was moved to a foster home after being separated from their parents. The agency is looking for more families willing to provide a foster home.
placement	To refer to the act or process of placing a child into foster care or any other arranged position. The social worker is responsible for finding a safe placement for the children. She was awaiting placement with a new foster family.

Examples of usage

She grew up as a foster in various homes before being adopted.
The agency is looking for foster families to take in children in need.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'foster' comes from the Old English 'fostrian', meaning to feed or nourish.
In many languages, similar words express caring or nurturing, showing a universal concept of helping others.
The term has been used since the Middle Ages, primarily in contexts relating to raising children or animals.

Social Services

Foster care systems are established to provide temporary homes for children who cannot live with their biological families.
In the U.S., nearly 400,000 children are in foster care at any given time, seeking safety and stability.
Foster parenting requires special training to help caregivers understand trauma and support emotional healing.

Psychology

Research shows that positive foster care experiences can significantly improve a child's mental health and social skills.
Attachment theory highlights how nurturing relationships in foster care can influence a child's development.
Children who grow up in supportive environments, even if not biological, show greater resilience in life.

Pop Culture

Television shows like 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends' explore themes of care and friendship through imaginative storytelling.
In movies, stories of foster children often showcase their journeys towards finding loving homes and familial bonds.
Documentaries highlight the challenges and triumphs of foster families, bringing awareness to the foster care system.

Literature

Literary works often reflect on themes of fostering hope and love, emphasizing community and acceptance.
Many children's books feature characters who are fostered, offering relatable narratives about finding one's place in the world.
Poems and novels have celebrated foster relationships, highlighting their depth beyond biological ties.

Translations

Translations of the word "foster" in other languages:

🇵🇹 promover

fomentar
adotar

🇮🇳 पालन-पोषण करना

बढ़ावा देना
गोद लेना

🇩🇪 fördern

unterstützen
pflegen

🇮🇩 memelihara

mendorong
mengasuh

🇺🇦 сприяти

виховувати
плекати

🇵🇱 sprzyjać

promować
wychowywać

🇯🇵 促進する (sokushin suru)

育てる (sodateru)
養う (yashinau)

🇫🇷 favoriser

promouvoir
élever

🇪🇸 fomentar

promover
criar

🇹🇷 teşvik etmek

desteklemek
evlatlık almak

🇰🇷 촉진하다 (chokjin hada)

기르다 (gireuda)
양육하다 (yang-yug hada)

🇸🇦 تعزيز

تشجيع
تربية

🇨🇿 podporovat

pěstovat
vychovávat

🇸🇰 podporovať

pestovať
vychovávať

🇨🇳 促进 (cùjìn)

培养 (péiyǎng)
收养 (shōuyǎng)

🇸🇮 spodbujati

podpirati
vzgajati

🇮🇸 efla

hlúa að
ala upp

🇰🇿 қолдау

тәрбиелеу
дамыту

🇬🇪 წახალისება

მხარდაჭერა
აღზრდა

🇦🇿 dəstəkləmək

təşviq etmək
tərbiyə etmək

🇲🇽 fomentar

promover
criar

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,529 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
5526 averaged
5527 collateral
5528 winding
5529 foster
5530 aesthetic
5531 beneficiary
5532 publicity
...