Etymologically
Log in

mommy

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 15:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈmɒm.i/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It is an American variant of mamma,[2] or an alteration of mammy.[3] Compare mom and momma.[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Mother, as a child's word: about 1768 in Merriam-Webster, 1844 in Etymonline;[3][2] the OED's first quotation is from 1902.[4]

Semantic evolution

The variant spelling mommie is attested by 1882.[2] The mommy track, a career path for women that gives priority to raising children, is attested by 1987.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1768 – mommy (Merriam-Webster).[3]
  • 1844 – mommy (Etymonline).[2]
  • 1882 – mommie.[2]
  • 1987 – mommy track.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (chiefly US) A child's word for mother.

Word family

  • mommy track

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press