parent
PEH-uh-ruhnt
Parent (noun) means a person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child. Example: “Both parents attended the school play.”
noun
1
A person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child.
"Both parents attended the school play."
"As a single parent, she juggled work and childcare alone."
"A good parent listens to a child before deciding what to do."
2
The source or origin from which something else derives.
"The parent company owns several smaller brands."
"Latin is the parent language of French and Spanish."
"The engineers traced the fault back to the parent program that launched the others."
verb
1
To raise and care for a child.
"They chose to parent their children with a lot of patience and structure."
"It is hard to parent a teenager when you are tired."
"She learned to parent calmly after reading several books on the subject."
How to use parent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mother or father who raises a child, or more broadly, the source that something else comes from.
Common pairings
single parent
parent company
expectant parent
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Word forms
- Plural
- parents
- Third person singular
- parents
- Past tense
- parented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Both _____ attended the school play.
Etymology
From Latin parens, "one who brings forth," the present participle of parere ("to give birth to, produce").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for parent
See all rhymes for parent →Frequently asked questions
What does “parent” mean?
The word “parent” means a person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child. In plain terms, a mother or father who raises a child, or more broadly, the source that something else comes from.
How do you pronounce “parent”?
“Parent” is pronounced PEH-uh-ruhnt (/ˈpɛəɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “parent” in a sentence?
Here is “parent” used in a sentence: “Both parents attended the school play.”
What part of speech is “parent”?
Depending on how it is used, “parent” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “parent” come from?
The word “parent” comes from Latin. From Latin parens, "one who brings forth," the present participle of parere ("to give birth to, produce").
Is “parent” a common word?
“Parent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “parent” have?
“Parent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child.
What is the difference between a parent and a guardian?
A parent is usually a child's biological or adoptive mother or father. A guardian is anyone given legal responsibility to care for a child, who may or may not be related. Every parent with custody acts as a guardian, but a guardian is not necessarily the child's parent.
What are the types of parent?
Parenthood takes many forms: biological parents, adoptive parents, step-parents, and foster parents. The word covers anyone who raises or is legally responsible for a child, regardless of biology. What unites them is the caring, protecting, and guiding role rather than a single definition.
Does 'parent' only refer to people?
No. Beyond mothers and fathers, 'parent' is used more widely: a parent company owns other firms, and in biology a parent cell or organism gives rise to offspring. In each case the idea is the same — a source that produces or is responsible for something.
What is an example of a parent's role?
Raising a child day to day: feeding, clothing, keeping them safe, teaching right from wrong, and supporting their education and growth. A parent also holds legal responsibility, making decisions about health, schooling, and welfare until the child becomes an adult.
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