in loco parentis

1 of 2

adverb

in lo·​co pa·​ren·​tis in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-təs How to pronounce in loco parentis (audio)
: in the place of a parent
school officials acting in loco parentis

in loco parentis

2 of 2

noun

: 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
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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in loco parentis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Latin

First Known Use

Adverb

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in loco parentis was in 1818

Dictionary Entries Near in loco parentis

Cite this Entry

“In loco parentis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20loco%20parentis. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Legal Definition

in loco parentis

adverb
in lo·​co pa·​ren·​tis in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-tis How to pronounce in loco parentis (audio)
: in the place of a parent
either parent of a minor, guardian, or a person standing in loco parentis to the minorCode of Alabama

Note: 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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