surrogates
Those who substitute
Surrogates are substitutes—people or things standing in for others.
A surrogate mother carries a pregnancy for someone else.
A surrogate decision-maker acts on behalf of someone incapacitated.
In politics, surrogates speak publicly for candidates: Campaign surrogates fanned out across the state.
The word implies authorized replacement rather than mere imitation.
Backup actor, ready nightly
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- alternateOccur in succession
substitute · pinch-hitter · locum · temp · reserve · relief · second-string · double
Official foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- emissaryAgent sent abroad
- representativeOne who acts for another
- delegateEntrust authority to another
diplomat · plenipotentiary · consul · attaché · legate · intermediary · negotiator · liaison
Temporary guardian of another's child
- adoptive parentOne who legally claims another's child
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
- godparentBaptismal ceremony guardian
stepparent · nanny · au pair · babysitter · mentor · protector · custodian · legal guardian
Person carrying another's pregnancy
- birth motherParent who delivered child
- egg donorProvider of reproductive cells
- sperm donorMale fertility provider
- IVFLaboratory-aided conception method
in vitro fertilization · embryo transfer · assisted reproduction · fertility clinic · reproductive technology · genetic screening · gestation · prenatal care
Protective caretaker of another
- trusteeOne managing another's assets
- conservatorArtifact preservation expert
- fiduciaryAgent bound by loyalty
- executorAppointed estate manager
custodian · healthcare proxy · legal representative · decision-maker · appointee · ward · beneficiary · guardianship
understudy
Backup actor, ready nightly
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
alternate · substitute · pinch-hitter · locum · temp · reserve · relief · second-string · double · body double
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- emissaryAgent sent abroad
- representativeOne who acts for another
delegate · diplomat · plenipotentiary · consul · attaché · legate · intermediary · negotiator · liaison · spokesperson
foster parent
Temporary guardian of another's child
- adoptive parentOne who legally claims another's child
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
godparent · stepparent · nanny · au pair · babysitter · mentor · protector · custodian · legal guardian · foster family
gestational carrier
Person carrying another's pregnancy
- birth motherParent who delivered child
- egg donorProvider of reproductive cells
- sperm donorMale fertility provider
IVF · in vitro fertilization · embryo transfer · assisted reproduction · fertility clinic · reproductive technology · genetic screening · gestation · prenatal care · implantation
guardian
Protective caretaker of another
- trusteeOne managing another's assets
- conservatorArtifact preservation expert
- fiduciaryAgent bound by loyalty
executor · custodian · healthcare proxy · legal representative · decision-maker · appointee · ward · beneficiary · guardianship · conservatorship
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- opinion makerspundits, commentators, columnists, editorialists, op-ed writers
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
- conservationconservation, wildlife, endangered, habitat, sanctuary
- pregnancypregnancy, pregnant, prenatal care, due date, weeks
surrogatesoriginals
Authentic first versions
the real thing · principals · genuine articles · primaries · prototypes
- surrogate motherWoman bearing another's child
- surrogate motherhoodPregnancy on another's behalf
- surrogate parentOne raising another's offspring
- surrogate fatherReplacement paternal presence
- surrogate parentingPregnancy on another's behalf
- surrogate parenthoodBearing offspring for others