noun
foundling
Foundling (noun) means an abandoned baby or child found and cared for by someone other than its parents. Example: “The orphanage took in the foundling and raised her as their own.”
noun
1
An abandoned baby or child found and cared for by someone other than its parents.
"The orphanage took in the foundling and raised her as their own."
How to use foundling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA child left behind by its parents and later found and looked after by others.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like foundling.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- foundlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The orphanage took in the _____ and raised her as their own.
Etymology
From Middle English fyndling, built from "found" plus the suffix -ling, meaning a small or young one.
Synonyms
View more →
abandoned infant
Frequently asked questions
What does “foundling” mean?
The word “foundling” means an abandoned baby or child found and cared for by someone other than its parents. In plain terms, a child left behind by its parents and later found and looked after by others.
How do you use “foundling” in a sentence?
Here is “foundling” used in a sentence: “The orphanage took in the foundling and raised her as their own.”
What part of speech is “foundling”?
“Foundling” is a noun.
Where does the word “foundling” come from?
The word “foundling” comes from Middle English. From Middle English fyndling, built from "found" plus the suffix -ling, meaning a small or young one.
