foundling

American  

[found-ling] / ˈfaʊnd lɪŋ /

noun

1. an infant or small child found abandoned; a child without a known parent or guardian.

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foundling British  

/ ˈfaʊndlɪŋ /

noun

1. an abandoned infant whose parents are not known

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Etymology

Origin of foundling

First recorded in 1250–1300, foundling is from the Middle English word found(e)ling. See found ², -ling ¹

Explanation

A foundling is a child who's been abandoned by their parents. You might also call a foundling a "waif" — and no matter what word you use, your heart will hurt for them. While a foundling is sometimes an orphan, someone whose parents have died, foundlings are often babies whose parents aren't able to care for them. In cases like this, parents sometimes abandon their babies in safe places like hospitals or churches. Many characters in literature are foundlings, from Oedipus to Superman. Moses is another famous foundling. The word shares a root with found, as in a "found child."

Example Sentences

She transforms herself from “a wild, hatless little savage” into a lady, which estranges her from her childhood companion and besotted admirer, Heathcliff, a foundling who lives with her family.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

A story of passion and revenge, it is based on the original story of the destructive, obsessive love between Catherine Earnshaw and the foundling Heathcliff.

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025

He's still raising a Force-wielding foundling on “The Mandalorian” for however long Disney+ keeps that title character alive and little Grogu dependent on him.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2025

We might hear an account of a foundling left on this particular doorstep, or perhaps the family that once lived here and was forced to flee or go into hiding.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2023

It was a foundling who finally tamed the zeros and infinities in calculus and rid mathematics of its mysticism.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife