single mother

American  

Informal, single mom

noun

• single mothers
  plural

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• single mothers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of single mother

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

single mother

The first story is about Maur, a British single mother and aspiring artist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

She had a compelling biography, as someone raised by a single mother who rose to graduate from Harvard Law School.

From Slate ● Sep. 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Wallis’ Angie is simply a resourceful single mother striving to get home to her 6-year-old daughter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Debaste, a 40-year-old single mother who works a low-pay office job, ran up a large bill on utilities, transportation, groceries and medicine.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Mirian, a single mother, is desperate for money.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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