single parent

¹ American  

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of single parent¹

First recorded in 1850–60

Origin of single-parent²

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

She draws inspiration from her mother, a Philadelphia-area lawyer who raised Kutler as a single parent and successfully battled the disease in her 60s.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Indeed, part of the problem is access: In many countries, it’s challenging to pursue surrogacy as an intended single parent.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

Learner driver Martha Machiek, a single parent from Stockport, said she is "very stressed" trying to book a driving test slot.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

I’m 53, a single parent with a $1 million home.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 9, 2025

Still, even with her parents' help, my mother had her hands full, since by and large she was a single parent raising a houseful of children.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson