orphan

1 of 2

noun

or·​phan ˈȯr-fən How to pronounce orphan (audio)
1
: a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents
He became an orphan when his parents died in a car accident.
2
: a young animal that has lost its mother
feeding calves that are orphans
3
: one deprived of some protection or advantage
orphans of the storm
refugee orphans of the war
4
: a first line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the bottom of a printed page or column
orphan adjective
orphanhood noun

orphan

2 of 2

verb

orphaned; orphaning ˈȯr-fə-niŋ How to pronounce orphan (audio)
ˈȯrf-niŋ

transitive verb

: to cause to become an orphan

Examples of orphan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Rare diseases, also referred to as orphan indications, are a core Jaguar development focus. Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024 Riad was raised in a school for orphans, his daughter Khuzama said. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 In 2023, Investigation Discovery dove into the bizarre and fascinating case of Natalia Grace, the Ukranian orphan with a rare form of dwarfism, spondyloepiphyseal, who was adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 5 Feb. 2024 In that red-haired orphan, the red-lipped, tattooed Workman has a kindred spirit. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2024 The first Twiggy was an orphan adopted by Chuck and Lou Ann Best, from central Florida, after Hurricane David hit their home state in 1979. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2024 Cassie is an orphan, born to a spider researcher in the Amazon who died in childbirth, but her only superpowers are her killer bangs, red leather jacket, and disarmingly awkward personal style. David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2024 In a ramshackle Pennsylvania neighborhood during the 1920s and ’30s, Jewish and African American residents come together to hide an orphan from state officials. Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Heidecker will play a local deputy, Patterson has been cast as an orphan profiteer, Huss portrays an eccentric empty-nester millionaire and Cardellini takes on the role of a social worker who helps Stiller’s character on his journey to find a home for the boys. Brent Lang, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
And finally, back to nature In the past decade, more than 800 orphaned, sick or injured manatees have been taken to critical care centers. Jason Gulley Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Since Mohamed returned from the hospital, the family has tried to be together as much as possible, so an air strike will not leave any of the children orphaned, or Ruba or Mohamed without each other. Claire Porter Robbins, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024 Some have been orphaned, while others endure the fear of their parents being killed by Israeli strikes. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 That orphaned, according to a 2004 report, 402 million DPICM submunitions. David Axe, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Biden lost my vote for stubbornly refusing to push for a stop of the hostilities that are killing, maiming and orphaning Palestinian kids. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023 What is Bosley Place? Bosley's Place rescue is a nursery and sanctuary for homeless and orphaned neonatal puppies that provides bottle feeding and 24-hour care, Siegel said. USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024 Also featured: the story of twin babies orphaned after their parents were shot dead and the harrowing testimony from a Nova attendee who was moments away from captivity after watching her friends be murdered. Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2023 One of the most notable organizations is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which fosters endangered wildlife like baby elephants and rhinos that have been orphaned as a result of poaching activity, human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, or other pressing issues. Mia Taylor, Parents, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orphan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English orphan, orphen, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French orphayn, borrowed from Late Latin orphanus, borrowed from Greek orphanós "left without parents, child without parents," derivative (with -anos, noun and adjective suffix) of *orphos "orphan," going back to Indo-European *h3órbhos "person or property turned over (as after a death)," whence also Armenian orb "orphan," Latin orbus "deprived by death of a relative, bereaved, orphan," Old Church Slavic rabŭ "slave," also (from post-Indo-European *orbhós "one having the inheritance, heir," whence *orbhii̯o- "of the heir") Old Irish orpe, orbae "patrimony, heritage," Old English ierfe "inheritance," Old Saxon erƀi, Old High German erbi, Gothic arbi, and (from Germanic *arbijōn- "heir") Old English ierfa "heir," Old High German erbo, Gothic arbja, runic Norse arbija; Indo-European *h3órbhos perhaps derivative of a verbal base *h3erbh- "turn, be turned over, undergo transfer" — more at orb entry 1

Verb

derivative of orphan entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orphan was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near orphan

Cite this Entry

“Orphan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orphan. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

orphan

1 of 2 noun
or·​phan ˈȯr-fən How to pronounce orphan (audio)
1
: a child whose parents are dead
2
: one who has had some protection or advantage taken away
orphans of the storm
orphan adjective
orphanhood noun

orphan

2 of 2 verb
orphaned; orphaning ˈȯrf-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce orphan (audio)
: to cause to become an orphan
children orphaned by war

Legal Definition

orphan

noun
or·​phan
: a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents
broadly : a child without a parent or guardian

More from Merriam-Webster on orphan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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