noun
Uncommon
surrogate
SUH-ruh-giht
Surrogate (noun) means a person or thing that substitutes for another. Example: “The therapist acted as a surrogate father figure for the boy.”
noun
1
A person or thing that substitutes for another.
"The therapist acted as a surrogate father figure for the boy."
2
A woman who carries a pregnancy for another person or couple.
"They found a surrogate through a specialist agency."
adj
1
Acting as a substitute.
"She became a surrogate mother for her sister's child."
How to use surrogate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stand-in or substitute for someone or something, including a woman who carries a pregnancy for someone else.
Common pairings
surrogate mother
a surrogate for
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- surrogates
- Past tense
- surrogated
- Comparative
- more surrogate
- Superlative
- most surrogate
Fill the gap
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The therapist acted as a _____ father figure for the boy.
Etymology
From Latin surrogatus, a variant of subrogare — from sub- ("under") + rogare ("to ask").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for surrogate
See all rhymes for surrogate →Frequently asked questions
What does “surrogate” mean?
The word “surrogate” means a person or thing that substitutes for another. In plain terms, a stand-in or substitute for someone or something, including a woman who carries a pregnancy for someone else.
How do you pronounce “surrogate”?
“Surrogate” is pronounced SUH-ruh-giht (/ˈsɝəɡɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “surrogate” in a sentence?
Here is “surrogate” used in a sentence: “The therapist acted as a surrogate father figure for the boy.”
What part of speech is “surrogate”?
Depending on how it is used, “surrogate” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “surrogate” come from?
The word “surrogate” comes from Latin. From Latin surrogatus, a variant of subrogare — from sub- ("under") + rogare ("to ask").
Is “surrogate” a common word?
“Surrogate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “surrogate” have?
“Surrogate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or thing that substitutes for another.
