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

Actress Brooke Mueller is taking her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen, to court over claims of unpaid child support. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025

Mueller claims that Sheen was ordered to pay her $55,000 per month in child support in April 2010 and says there were no issues receiving payment until July 2011. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, unsecured debts like credit cards, medical bills and personal loans are often eligible, but student loans, recent tax obligations, child support and court fines typically cannot be discharged unless specific (and rare) conditions apply. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025

Neither Smith, who no longer works for the county, nor Lujan, now the county’s assistant director of child support services, returned a request for comment. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for child support

• heliport
• nonsupport
• reexport
• teleport
• ultrashort
• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort

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.