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

“Sir, I don’t need any lectures from you about being a mother,” Porter, a single mother of three and the only woman on the debate stage, shot back.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

But growing up in the rough East London neighborhood of Plaistow, Grede was broke, the daughter of a struggling single mother.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

“It’s really stressful. Because I don’t have a lot of money and I was a single mother for so long, I’m very careful about my budget — I keep spreadsheets.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

Divorced and a single mother, Paul defied those norms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

A single mother, well spoken, artistic, raising a daughter who was polite and fairly pretty and possibly brilliant.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng