orphan
AW-fuhn
Orphan (noun) means a child whose parents have both died (or, more loosely, abandoned them). Example: “The charity funds a school for war orphans.”
noun
1
A child whose parents have both died (or, more loosely, abandoned them).
"The charity funds a school for war orphans."
"The novel tells the story of an orphan who grows up in a children's home."
"A kind family adopted the young orphan last year."
2
Something left without the support, source, or connection it depended on.
"The project became an orphan when its funding agency shut down."
"When the main author left, the software library became an orphan with nobody to fix it."
"The old website was an orphan, with no links pointing to it."
verb
1
To leave a child without parents, usually through death.
"The earthquake orphaned hundreds of children overnight."
"The fire orphaned the boy when he was only three years old."
"A terrible accident orphaned the two sisters, and their aunt took them in."
How to use orphan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA child with no living or present parents, or by extension anything left without its usual support.
Common pairings
orphan child
orphaned by the war
left an orphan
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Word forms
- Plural
- orphans
- Third person singular
- orphans
- Past tense
- orphaned
- Archaic forms
- orphanest, orphanedst, orphaneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charity funds a school for war _____.
Etymology
From Greek orphanós, "without parents," ultimately from a very old root shared with the Latin word for "orphaned" and the Old English word for "heir" — orphans, ironically, were once linked linguistically to inheritance.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “orphan” mean?
The word “orphan” means a child whose parents have both died (or, more loosely, abandoned them). In plain terms, a child with no living or present parents, or by extension anything left without its usual support.
How do you pronounce “orphan”?
“Orphan” is pronounced AW-fuhn (/ˈɔɹfən/ in IPA).
How do you use “orphan” in a sentence?
Here is “orphan” used in a sentence: “The charity funds a school for war orphans.”
What part of speech is “orphan”?
Depending on how it is used, “orphan” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “orphan” come from?
The word “orphan” comes from Latin.
Is “orphan” a common word?
“Orphan” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “orphan” have?
“Orphan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a child whose parents have both died (or, more loosely, abandoned them).
What is the difference between an "orphan" and a "foster child"?
An "orphan" is a child whose parents have both died, or more loosely, who has been abandoned by them. A "foster child" is a child placed temporarily in someone else's care, regardless of whether their biological parents are alive, deceased, or simply unable to care for them.
Can "orphan" describe something other than a child?
Yes, "orphan" can describe something left without the support, source, or connection it depended on, used figuratively beyond its literal meaning of a parentless child. For example, a discontinued product line or an unsupported piece of software is sometimes called an "orphan."
Can "orphan" be used as a verb?
Yes, "to orphan" is a verb meaning to leave a child without parents, usually through death. It can also be used figuratively to describe leaving something without the support or connection it depended on, such as a project being "orphaned" when its lead developer leaves.
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