childless

adjective

child·​less ˈchī(-ə)l(d)-ləs 

: without children : not having a child or children

a childless couple

Some of the most active and happiest retirees I know are childless.

—David Rae

That's an outgrowth of the current program, which allowed states to expand to pregnant women, parents and childless adults with the administration's approval.

—Miami Times

Advisors usually distinguish between "childless" (no children today but perhaps tomorrow) and "childfree" (no children today or tomorrow).

—John Kador

When you're childless not by choice, Mother's Day can be a painful reminder of profound loss.

—Sian Prior

compare child-free

childlessness noun

Although society instructs us otherwise, parenthood or childlessness need not be the keystone of a woman's identity …

—Christine Pelton Hawkins

But neither is childlessness her clear preference: Things have simply worked out that way so far, and as she heads into her forties, she finds herself ruminating on the possibilities of it working out a little differently.

—Guy Lodge

Many of her fans recognized the mean-spirited nature of the tabloid response to her childlessness, and reached out on social media to support her.

—Jennifer Graham Kizer

Examples of childless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Urban Institute found that city couples have a higher chance of moving to the suburbs after having children than childless couples the same age. — Adam Drakulic, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Many childless Americans also don't have plans in case of incapacity or death. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

Of course, plenty of liberals have children, and plenty of conservatives have small families or remain childless. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

If a California resident dies childless and without a will while their parents are still alive – as was true for Chadwick Boseman – their spouse gets only half of any assets classified as separate property. — Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above