single mother

American  

Informal, single mom

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of single mother

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Crow noted that she chose Nashville because she already had family living in the area, family that would become an integral part of her decision to adopt two children as a single mother.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Affordability was a major theme in the debate, which included an introductory video of a single mother struggling to fill her gas tank and buy groceries.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Liz Myers, a single mother from Evanston, Ill., has flown Spirit for years, taking her kids to Walt Disney World and traveling to work-training events.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Bhosle left her husband in 1960 as a single mother of three children.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

There are two of you, he had said; that might be a big advantage over a single mother.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng