empty nester

American  

Or empty-nester

noun

1. a parent whose children have reached adulthood and left home.

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empty-nester British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of empty nester

First recorded in 1960–65; empty nest + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The couple enjoyed life as empty nesters with shared passions for road trips and camping.

From Los Angeles Times

For Veronica P., an empty nester who moved to Olive Dell in March 2024, the ranch offered her acceptance.

From Los Angeles Times

It comes after the children's minister urged empty nesters to consider fostering due to a "decline in the number of foster carers to the point of crisis".

From BBC

And more houses could be entering the market, with nearly 21 million households defined as empty nesters expected to downsize.

From Salon

Probably four or five years ago, my wife and I became empty nesters, and I wanted to learn to do something new.

From Los Angeles Times