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

Etymology

Origin of parenthood

First recorded in 1855–60; parent + -hood

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parenthood

It returned this season with a movie that revisits the same characters, all grown up and grappling with parenthood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Economic hardship, however, is not the only factor as the mental and physical demands of parenthood also weigh on many.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The shift toward later parenthood reflects a shift in priorities.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Payments can only be backdated for three months, meaning some families could be missing out on hundreds of pounds in the fog of new parenthood.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 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