single parent

¹

noun

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

   Being a single parent isn’t easy.

single-parent

²

[sing-guhl-pair-uhnt, ‐-par-uhnt]

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.

single parent

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of single parent¹

First recorded in 1850–60

Origin of single parent²

First recorded in 1965–70