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parenthood

[pair-uh nt-hoo d, par-]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR parenthood ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state, position, or relation of a parent.

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RELATED WORDS

gestation, motherhood, parentage, mothership

Origin of parenthood

First recorded in 1855–60; parent + -hood

Related formsnon·par·ent·hood, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for parenthood

Contemporary Examples of parenthood

Camille Hammond, CEO of Tinina Q Cade Foundation, said simply that the pathways to parenthood are different.
Want Blue Eyes With That Baby?: The Strange New World of Human Reproduction
Eleanor Clift
November 24, 2014
And, presumably, parenthood is linked to marriage for most of these men.
High Manxiety: Thirtysomething Men Are The New Neurotic Singles
Hannah Seligson
May 4, 2014
Parenthood is a rare gem on network television: a family drama.
These 5 ‘On the Bubble’ TV Shows Shouldn’t Be Canceled
Kevin Fallon
April 9, 2014
Nor am I one of those pathetic “men” too wimpy to handle the grit of parenthood.
Why Men Shouldn’t Wait To Have Kids
Conor P. Williams
March 8, 2014
Suddenly, the show isn't just a metaphor about marriage; it's a metaphor about parenthood as well.
Why ‘The Americans’ Is the Best Spy Show on TV
Andrew Romano
February 26, 2014

Historical Examples of parenthood

She couldn't get over her sense of his parenthood, his authority.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
Then you will have a family and enjoy all the pleasures of parenthood.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
It is, next to marriage and parenthood, the most exacting of human relationships.
The Family and it's Members
Anna Garlin Spencer
The question of the right age for parenthood is naturally of importance.
The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book
Various
Marriage and parenthood are twin obligations that the individual owes to the race.
Society
Henry Kalloch Rowe

Word Origin and History for parenthood

n.

1856, from parent (n.) + -hood.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper