mismothering

M3I1S1M3O1T1H4E1R1I1N1G2

noun

Failure of an animal to take maternal care of its young, and/or stealing another's offspring to mother it.

“Mismothering may occur among sheep when a lamb has been separated from the flock and returned.”

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of mismother
nounmismothering (uncountable)
  1. uncountableFailure of an animal to take maternal care of its young, and/or stealing another's offspring to mother it.

    Mismothering may occur among sheep when a lamb has been separated from the flock and returned.

Origin

From mis- + mothering.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

mismothering. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mismothering

MLA

“mismothering.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mismothering. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mismothering,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mismothering.

Source: mismothering on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.