parent

[pair-uhnt, par-]

noun

1. a father or a mother.

2. an ancestor, precursor, or progenitor.

3. a source, origin, or cause.

4. a protector or guardian.

5. Biology.,  any organism that produces or generates another.

6. Physics.,  the first nuclide in a radioactive series.

adjective

1. being the original source.

   a parent organization.

2. Biology.,  pertaining to an organism, cell, or complex molecular structure that generates or produces another.

   parent cell;

   parent DNA.

verb (used with object)

1. to be or act as parent of.

   to parent children with both love and discipline.

parent

/ ˈpɛərənt /

noun

1. a father or mother

2. a person acting as a father or mother; guardian

3. rare,  an ancestor

4. a source or cause

5. 1. an organism or organization that has produced one or more organisms or organizations similar to itself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent organism

6. physics chem

   1. a precursor, such as a nucleus or compound, of a derived entity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent nucleus

      a parent ion

Other Word Forms

• parentless adjective
• parentlike adjective
• nonparent noun
• parenthood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin parent-, stem of parēns, noun use of present participle of parere “to bring forth, breed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

C15: via Old French from Latin parens parent, from parere to bring forth

Example Sentences

His parents and brother spent more than nine months living with him at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff.

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I’ve been helping to care for my elderly parents for six years.

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It is, in a modest and practical way, an expression of the biblical injunction to honor one’s parents—not by grand gestures, but by assuming a few of the small responsibilities they habitually postpone.

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These older adult workers will want—and employers will want to provide—different benefits such as elder caregiving for spouses or parents, services focused on preventive health and workplace changes that are age-friendly.

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"Kids are naturally curious and instead of ignoring that, we can embrace it. With safe, gentle products parents can trust," Rini co-founder Mitchell told her 35 million Instagram followers.

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Related Words

• father 
• mother