parenting

American  

[pair-uhn-ting, par-] / ˈpɛər ən tɪŋ, ˈpær- /

noun

1. the rearing of children.

   The schedule allows her very little time for parenting.

2. the methods, techniques, etc., used or required in the rearing of children.

   a course in parenting.

3. the state of being a parent; parenthood.

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adjective

1. of or concerned with the rearing of children.

   good parenting skills.

parenting British  

/ ˈpɛərəntɪŋ /

noun

1. the care and upbringing of a child

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Usage

Parenting has come to be favored over parenthood, rearing, and bringing up in sociological and educational literature and in popular writing.

Etymology

Origin of parenting

First recorded in 1955–60; parent + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

But he didn’t realize that—and there’s a great deal of pressure to comply, when you are confronted with law enforcement questioning your parenting, to show that you have nothing to hide.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026

The star, who has more than 17 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, rose to fame by sharing parenting and traditional family content.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

You’ll be stepping into a household where, every day, you are parenting and being parented.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

But it remains a relevant morality tale — of the rot that comes with coveting all of L.A.’s beautiful things and the pitfalls of parenting by giving your children all the material things you lacked.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

The second is that we are less persuaded by parenting theory than by what the data have to say.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt