What does breastfeeder mean?
A breastfeeder is a person who feeds an infant with breast milk, most commonly a mother nursing her baby. The word can also refer to an infant that feeds from the breast, although this less common sense is usually expressed instead by saying that the baby is breastfeeding. In contemporary use, breastfeeder most often describes the person performing the feeding rather than the infant receiving nourishment. It is a straightforward compound of breast and feeder and is distinct from bottle-feeder, which refers to someone who gives an infant milk or formula from a bottle. Although accurate and understood in both British and American English, breastfeeder is less usual than expressions such as nursing mother or breastfeeding parent. It is especially likely to appear in health, childcare, family-support, and educational contexts, including discussions of feeding support, infant nutrition, and the experiences of parents who breastfeed.
nounA person who breastfeeds an infant, especially a mother who nurses her baby.
- A person, usually a mother, who breastfeeds an infant.
- An infant that feeds from the breast.
"Her older sister was a committed breastfeeder and had helped many new mothers at the hospital."
"A skilled lactation consultant can offer valuable support to a new breastfeeder."
"The baby was an eager breastfeeder and settled quickly at the breast."
The standard plural refers to people who breastfeed infants; in the less common infant sense, it refers to babies that feed from the breast.
"The support group welcomed breastfeeders from across the region."
A breastfeeder puts the parent, the baby, and the nourishing act all in one practical word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does breastfeeder come from?
Breastfeeder is a modern English compound formed from breast and feeder. Breast continues Old English brēost, while feeder is an agent noun derived from feed, which comes from Old English fēdan. The compound developed within English to name the person or infant involved in feeding at the breast, rather than being a direct borrowing from another language.
Related word forms
How breastfeeder is actually used
The term is neutral but relatively uncommon in everyday conversation, where "breastfeeding mother," "nursing mother," or "breastfeeding parent" may sound more natural. In some contexts it can sound clinical or administrative.
Easily confused with breastfeeder
A breastfeeder nourishes an infant with breast milk, whereas a bottle-feeder nourishes an infant with milk or formula given from a bottle.