mama

noun

ma·​ma ˈmä-mə How to pronounce mama (audio)
 chiefly British  mə-ˈmä
variants or less commonly mamma or momma
1
: mother
2
slang : wife, woman

Examples of mama in a Sentence

I'm not your mama—you'll have to clean up after yourself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rockwell's Officer Dixon, a mama’s boy with a screw loose and a history of torturing Black prisoners, is a target of her ire − that is, until the actor carefully adds layers to what could be a one-note jerk. 14. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025 The zoo welcomed its baby bongo after his mama, Cayenne, gave birth for the first time. Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025 There are at least three different episodes that feature mama bears coming out of hibernation and looking for different ways to feed her twin — always twin — cubs. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2025 The mama sheep will often step in to stop it as the dogs stand by to make sure nothing escalates. Liz O'Connell, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mama

Word History

Etymology

baby talk

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mama was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Mama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mama. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

mama

noun
ma·​ma
variants also mamma or momma
ˈmäm-ə

More from Merriam-Webster on mama

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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