orphan
noun
a child who has lost both parents through death, or, less commonly, one parent.
orphaned
-
past participleof orphan.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof orphan.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
orphannouna child who has lost both parents through death, or, less commonly, one parent.
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.
The BBC understands Ahmadzai, who left Afghanistan after being orphaned aged 15, lives in Greece with his American wife and their child.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Candidates could consider moderating their message to attract orphaned voters, though that can be perilous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
At the novel’s core are Tomás and his wife, Phina, each bearing the psychic wounds of the midcentury potato famine that left them orphaned and adrift—until they found each other.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
The calf, which has been named Bumpy, was "just days old" when it became orphaned, according to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity whose keepers are now taking care of it.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
She was a crofter's child, orphaned when her father died of fever, on her way to . . . well, nowhere, really.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
