adj
motherless
Motherless (adj) means having no mother, whether through death, absence, or abandonment. Example: “The charity cares for motherless children in the region.”
adj
1
Having no mother, whether through death, absence, or abandonment.
"The charity cares for motherless children in the region."
"He grew up motherless, raised by his grandparents."
How to use motherless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWithout a mother.
Common pairings
motherless child
motherless calf
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like motherless.
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
- Comparative
- more motherless
- Superlative
- most motherless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charity cares for _____ children in the region.
Etymology
From Middle English moderles, from Old English mōdorlēas, from Proto-Germanic *mōdērlausaz, equivalent to mother + -less. Cognate with Saterland Frisian muurloos (“motherless”), Dutch moederloos (“motherless”), German mutterlos (“motherless”), Danish moderløs (“motherless”), Swedish moderlös (“motherless”), Icelandic móðurlaus (“motherless”).
Rhymes for motherless
See all rhymes for motherless →Frequently asked questions
What does “motherless” mean?
The word “motherless” means having no mother, whether through death, absence, or abandonment. In plain terms, without a mother.
How do you use “motherless” in a sentence?
Here is “motherless” used in a sentence: “The charity cares for motherless children in the region.”
What part of speech is “motherless”?
“Motherless” is an adjective.
What is the meaning of motherless?
"motherless" (adj) means having no mother, whether through death, absence, or abandonment.
