godmother

IPA/ˈɡɒdmʌðə(r)/
KK[ɡˈɑdmˌʌðɚ]IPA/ˈɡɑːdmʌðər/

godmother — noun

  • godmothersingular
  • godmothersplural

1. a woman who promises at a Christian ceremony to help raise a child in the faith

1.nounB1
Definition

a woman who promises at a Christian ceremony to help raise a child in the faith and to support the child's family

Example

Aiko asked her best friend to be her daughter's godmother.

collocation: ask someone to be godmother

The godmother gave the baby a silver bracelet at the christening.

typical role: giving gifts at ceremonies

Common collocations
  • ask someone to be (a) godmother
  • become a godmother
  • stand as godmother
  • choose someone as godmother
Synonyms
  • godparent

    gender-neutral term covering both godmother and godfather

  • sponsor

    more formal term used in some Christian denominations

Usage Note

Often paired with godfather; the couple together are called godparents.

Idioms

fairy godmother

idiom

a magical woman in children's stories who appears to help the main character in a time of need

In the story, a fairy godmother appears and turns a pumpkin into a carriage.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Godmother is the specifically female form of godparent, used when the child's spiritual sponsor is a woman. Godfather is the male counterpart. Godparent is the gender-neutral umbrella term that covers both. Sponsor is a more formal term used in some Christian denominations for the person who presents a candidate for baptism. In everyday conversation, godmother and godfather are much more common than sponsor. For example: 'Priya asked her aunt to be her godmother' sounds natural, while 'Priya asked her aunt to be her sponsor' sounds formal and is less common in casual speech.

godparent ↗godfather ↗sponsor ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • ask someone to be godmother
  • stand as godmother
  • act as godmother
  • choose someone as godmother

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old English 'godmodor', combining 'god' (spiritual) and 'modor' (mother). The term has been used since the 14th century for a woman who sponsors a child at baptism.