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

Sperling was accompanied into the Gloucestershire church by her teenage daughter Georgina, and she has written online about her experiences as a single mother.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

“We didn’t have the money to spend,” said Payne, 17, who was raised by a single mother with three younger children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

A birth doula and family healthcare consultant who lives in El Sereno, Almario said that as a single mother of four and lifelong L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

Kenyan university student Ryan, who follows the videos of Andrew Kibe, says as a young man raised by a single mother, he views the influencer as a surrogate father figure.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

One of twelve children raised by a single mother, my father was the third eldest of the eight boys.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad