child support

noun

: payment for the support of the children of divorced or separated parents while the children are minors or as otherwise legally required compare alimony

Examples of child support in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In April, Sacramento County filed a case in family law court listing Lee as the respondent to establish paternity — a sometimes necessary step to pursue child support in cases where the parents are not married. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2024

Their agreement also ensured that the couple would never ask the donor for child support and prohibited him from ever asking for custody. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 18 June 2024

The case took a turn when Saginaw County court records showed Harris' license suspension was ordered rescinded by a judge in the Saginaw County Friend of the Court in January 2022 after a child support case was settled. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 13 June 2024

In 2011, someone at Social Security noticed that a child support payment from her son’s father hadn't been properly recorded — back in 2006. —Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 8 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

child support

noun

: payment for the support of the children of divorced or separated parents while the children are minors or as otherwise legally required compare alimony

Legal Definition

child support

noun

: payment made for the support of the children of divorced or separated parents while the children are minors or until they reach an age set by the separation agreement or in a court order compare alimony

Note: Child support is usually paid by the parent who is without custody. In the case of joint custody, both parents usually pay child support.