Mom is an informal, affectionate word for mother. Your mom is the woman who gave birth to you or adopted you and helps raise you. The word feels warmer and more personal than “mother”: you might introduce someone as “my mother” at a formal event, but at home you'd probably just call out “Mom!”

Moms do all kinds of things: they might cook dinner, help with homework, drive carpool, work at an office or hospital, coach soccer teams, or run businesses. Every mom is different, but what they share is caring deeply about their children's well-being and growth.

The word works in many phrases. A soccer mom drives kids to activities and sports. A stay-at-home mom focuses on raising children rather than working outside the home. The phrase mom and pop describes a small family-owned business, like a mom-and-pop restaurant run by a couple rather than a big corporation.

People also use “mom” for stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and other women who fill a mothering role in someone's life. The word captures a bond of love and care that can exist whether or not there's a biological relationship.