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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

A single parent, Deilisbeth was away at work when the earthquake struck.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 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

As a single parent, Porter argues she is acutely aware of gas and grocery prices — as well as higher-stakes consequences.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

He has largely been a single parent to Shy’tyra and her siblings, who need some support too, although they’re more self-sufficient.

From Salon ● Apr. 29, 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

There was a noteworthy gap between two-parent households and single-parent households: 48% of families with two or more adults and two children fell below the $149,600 yearly threshold for economic security for that household type.

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

She’s an only child who lives in a single-parent home.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell