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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more surrogate comparative, surrogated past tense, surrogates singular, most surrogate superlative

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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").

Origin: Latin

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial