parenthood

American  

[pair-uhnt-hood, par-] / ˈpɛər əntˌhʊd, ˈpær- /

noun

1. the state, position, or relation of a parent.

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Usage

What does parenthood mean? Parenthood is the state of being a parent. A person enters parenthood when they become a parent. This most commonly happens when their child is born, but it can also happen through adoption or by marrying or becoming a partner to someone with children. The terms motherhood and fatherhood are gender-specific versions of parenthood. The related noun parenting can mean the same thing as parenthood, but it more commonly refers to the process of raising children or the methods and techniques used to do so, as in I didn’t know anything about parenting before I entered parenthood. Example: People who have not experienced parenthood probably shouldn’t be so quick to criticize how other people parent their children.

Other Word Forms

• nonparenthood
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of parenthood

First recorded in 1855–60; parent + -hood

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parenthood

Do you hear before parenthood and after parenthood in your music?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Deaths surrounding the transition to parenthood often have more to do with social vulnerability than biology, and many of them can be prevented.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Her body is not the only thing that has changed with Kinsella adding that parenthood has helped her become better at taking the pressure off herself as an athlete.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Then came the 2008 financial crisis and a growing number of young people felt priced out of parenthood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Once, these images of parenthood had troubled Shukumar, adding to his anxiety that he was still a student at thirty-five.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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