momism

American

[mom-iz-uhm] / ˈmɒm ɪz əm /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) excessive adulation of one's mother and undue dependence on maternal care or protection, resulting in an absence or loss of maturity and independence.
a saying or remark that is characteristic of a mother talking to her child.

momism British

/ ˈmɒmɪzəm /

noun

informal the excessive domination of a child by his or her mother

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of momism

mom + -ism; momism 1 coined by U.S. author Philip Wylie (1902–71) in Generation of Vipers (1942)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Why do leaders like Michelle Obama need to resort to "momism" in order to appeal to women?

From Time

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023