co-parent

American  

[koh-pair-uhnt, -par-, koh-pair-, -par-, koh-pair-uhnt, -par-] / ˈkoʊˌpɛər ənt, -ˌpær-, koʊˈpɛər-, -ˈpær-, koʊˈpɛər ənt, -ˈpær- /

Or coparent

noun

1. a divorced or separated parent who shares equally with the other parent in the custody and care of a child.

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verb (used with object)

1. to share equally with another parent in the care of (a child).

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a co-parent.

Etymology

Origin of co-parent

First recorded in 1850–55

Explanation

When two people raise a child together, they co-parent. This word is also a noun, so you can describe the people who co-parent as co-parents. If you grew up with two parents, they co-parented you, working together to nurture and care for you as you grew. This word is commonly used for divorced or separated people as a way to emphasize the ongoing collaboration between parents, even when they are no longer a couple. The earliest known use of co-parent was in the 1970s, with the prefix co- meaning "together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

co-parent

Mammals rarely co-parent, as opposed to, say, fish—seahorse dads develop brood pouches during their pregnancies, boosted by the hormone prolactin—but humans are an exception.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

When Simpson and Johnson first announced their split, the musician insisted that their kids were their main priority—vowing that they would continue to co-parent as amicably as possible.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 18, 2026

As a co-parent, she had to put this into practice herself when her stepdaughter admitted she wanted to spend Christmas Day with her dad and siblings after they moved further away.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026

The former couple welcomed a daughter in 2020 and continue to co-parent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025

My ex-husband and co-parent had recently died, and I was now the single mother of a grieving teen.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2025