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.

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

One of the siblings owes quite a bit of child support, which my parents have been adamant about not paying.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

It also called on the Kenyan defence ministry to negotiate with the UK government on mechanisms to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

After her divorce, she said she relied on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, which provided cash assistance for necessities until she started receiving child support.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2025

I guess he’s careful about his child support payments being put to good use.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

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