empty nester

or empty-nester

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noun

a parent whose children have reached adulthood and left home.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of empty nester

First recorded in 1960–65; empty nest + -er¹

British Dictionary definitions for empty nester

empty-nester

noun

informal a married person whose children have grown up and left home

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012