in lo·co pa·ren·tis
in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-təs 
: in the place of a parent
school officials acting in loco parentis
: regulation or supervision by an administrative body (as at a university) acting in loco parentis
Examples of in loco parentis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 5 July 2022
IHEs act in loco parentis and thus have a duty to care for the safety and security of students on campus.
—Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021
Schools are indeed in loco parentis while the students are in their care.
—Arkansas Online, 2 July 2021
In the late 1950s, there was no war to protest against, but there was a policy called in loco parentis, which put school administrators in charge of moral probity.
—Steven Levy, Wired, 5 Jan. 2021
The problem with this happening is that so much of government is now in loco parentis.
—Zachary Evans, National Review, 23 Apr. 2020
This column isn’t old enough to remember when university faculty were thought to be conscientious adults in loco parentis.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2018
Acting in loco parentis and under orders from the federal government, administrators form de facto star chambers that act as judge, jury and executioner, without adhering to legal rules of evidence or due process.
—Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 26 May 2016
The case significantly weakened the principle of in loco parentis, the legal idea that the school serves in place of the parent while a student is in attendance, and can thus absorb some of a child’s personal rights.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 Feb. 2018
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Adverb
Further, the memorandum disputes Riverside’s characterization of precedent regarding in loco parentis.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025
Noun
Nancy—who, as a teacher, operated in loco parentis—resented many of her students.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 5 July 2022
IHEs act in loco parentis and thus have a duty to care for the safety and security of students on campus.
—Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021
Schools are indeed in loco parentis while the students are in their care.
—Arkansas Online, 2 July 2021
In the late 1950s, there was no war to protest against, but there was a policy called in loco parentis, which put school administrators in charge of moral probity.
—Steven Levy, Wired, 5 Jan. 2021
The problem with this happening is that so much of government is now in loco parentis.
—Zachary Evans, National Review, 23 Apr. 2020
This column isn’t old enough to remember when university faculty were thought to be conscientious adults in loco parentis.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2018
Acting in loco parentis and under orders from the federal government, administrators form de facto star chambers that act as judge, jury and executioner, without adhering to legal rules of evidence or due process.
—Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 26 May 2016
The case significantly weakened the principle of in loco parentis, the legal idea that the school serves in place of the parent while a student is in attendance, and can thus absorb some of a child’s personal rights.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“In loco parentis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20loco%20parentis. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
in loco parentis
adverb
in lo·co pa·ren·tis
in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-tis
: in the place of a parent
either parent of a minor, guardian, or a person standing in loco parentis to the minor—Code of Alabama
Code of AlabamaNote: In order for a person to be considered in loco parentis, he or she must have intentionally assumed the rights and duties of a parent.
Etymology
Adverb
Latin
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