empty nester

noun

empty nest·​er -ˈne-stər How to pronounce empty nester (audio)
: a parent whose children have grown and moved away from home

Examples of empty nester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After spending time with his parents, who are recent empty nesters after his brothers and sister departed for college, in Ohio after the Lakers’ loss in Detroit, Hayes put up one of the best games of his NBA career with his mother and father in attendance. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 Leslie McCaddon, a mom of three and recent empty nester, went back to school when her youngest was 10. Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026 Downsizing isn’t just for empty nesters anymore. Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026 When single mother, April, is about to become an empty nester, decides to fix up her house to get ready to sell it. Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for empty nester

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empty nester was in 1958

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Cite this Entry

“Empty nester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty%20nester. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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