child support

American

noun

money paid for the care of one's minor child, especially payments to a divorced spouse or a guardian under a decree of divorce.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Salt Lake City resident struggled to support her two young daughters on her paycheck and child support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Those under 18 or in further education will be eligible for child support.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Us said that in December 2025, the court revised the former couple’s agreement to $1,206 per month in child support, with $43,401.96 due for unpaid past support.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Nearly all of them are people who owe child support, a civil offense "that has little to do with public security," according to the report "Smart Sampa: Transparency for whom? Transparency of what?"

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

“Why should I have to pay child support when I gave all my children up for adoption?”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023