Phrase guide

den mother

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An adult (female) leader of a Cub Scout den.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who plays the role of leader or protector of a group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

Examples

  • As the head of the boarding school, he serves as den mother for all the new students.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a woman who supervises a den of Cub Scouts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: chaperon, chaperone

4

noun

Meaning 4

someone who plays the role of a den mother

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he serves as den mother to all the freshmen in this dormitory
  • she's the den mother to new secretaries

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: supervisor

History

Etymology

From den (“an individual chapter”) + mother, after Boy Scouts of America Cub Scouting. Attested since 1936.