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• single parent
  single parent

  noun

  a parent or guardian who brings up a child or children alone, without a partner.
• single-parent
  single-parent

  adjective

  of or noting a family in which a parent brings up a child or children alone, without a partner: a single-parent household.

single parent

¹ American  

noun

• single parents
  plural

1. a parent or guardian who brings up a child or children alone, without a partner.

   Being a single parent isn’t easy.

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single-parent ² American  

[sing-guhl-pair-uhnt, ‐-par-uhnt] / ˈsɪŋ gəlˈpɛər ənt, ‐ˈpær ənt /

adjective

1. of or noting a family in which a parent brings up a child or children alone, without a partner: a single-parent household.

   a single-parent family;

   a single-parent household.

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single parent British  

noun

1. Also called (NZ): solo parent. 

   1. a person who has a dependent child or dependent children and who is widowed, divorced, or unmarried

   2. ( as modifier )

      a single-parent family

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• single parents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of single parent¹

First recorded in 1850–60

Origin of single-parent²

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

single parent single-parent

"While I have a boyfriend but I am a single parent," she explained.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

“Also, as a single parent, she was very aware of ‘anything can happen,’ and she wanted us to have a safety net if, God forbid, something happened,” Avery said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

The report sorted American households into seven distinct family structures: intact married, single parent, blended, unmarried biological or adoptive, cohabiting, extended and other.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

She’s a teenager, but I’m a single parent, so you know I’m already on the hunt for funds.

From MarketWatch ● May 20, 2026

Well, my mom is a single parent, and we almost never hear from my dad.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

The rate was 56% for families with children, due in part to the high share of single-parent households and families with three or more children that do not earn enough to thrive.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 18, 2026

The panel has called on leaders to provide extra support for single-parent families, such as more paid leave; and to consider extending existing leave entitlements to grandparents and other family members who take care-giving roles.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026

In her work as a policy analyst, she is advocating for “more financial support for married, working families in particular alongside the social support systems we have in place for single-parent families already.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 23, 2025

Although my decision was fueled by single-parent shame, his decision was matter-of-fact.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025

A single-parent home is all I’ve ever known, and Lucy more than made up for some deadbeat dad.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy