orphan

1 of 2

noun

or·​phan ˈȯr-fən 

1

: a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents

He became an orphan when his parents died in a car accident.

2

: a young animal that has lost its mother

feeding calves that are orphans

3

: one deprived of some protection or advantage

orphans of the storm

refugee orphans of the war

4

: a first line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the bottom of a printed page or column

orphan adjective

orphanhood

ˈȯr-fən-ˌhu̇d 

noun

orphan

2 of 2

verb

orphaned; orphaning ˈȯr-fə-niŋ 

ˈȯrf-niŋ

transitive verb

: to cause to become an orphan

Examples of orphan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But opponents argue exemptions would unnecessarily extend to numerous big-selling medicines for common conditions that — thanks to regulatory endorsements — also happen to have an orphan designation. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026

The project is inspired by the life of George Müller, who was guided by his faith in caring for more than 10,000 orphans before his death in 1898. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026

Verb

Others are truly orphaned, with no viable operator remaining. —Tim Rathmann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, a rescue organization based in Balmoral, Canada, recently took in three black bear cubs, each just 10 weeks old, after a shooter illegally killed their mother at the bear family's winter den, leaving the cubs orphaned. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English orphan, orphen, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French orphayn, borrowed from Late Latin orphanus, borrowed from Greek orphanós "left without parents, child without parents," derivative (with -anos, noun and adjective suffix) of *orphos "orphan," going back to Indo-European *h₃órbhos "person or property turned over (as after a death)," whence also Armenian orb "orphan," Latin orbus "deprived by death of a relative, bereaved, orphan," Old Church Slavic rabŭ "slave," also (from post-Indo-European *orbhós "one having the inheritance, heir," whence *orbhii̯o- "of the heir") Old Irish orpe, orbae "patrimony, heritage," Old English ierfe "inheritance," Old Saxon erƀi, Old High German erbi, Gothic arbi, and (from Germanic *arbijōn- "heir") Old English ierfa "heir," Old High German erbo, Gothic arbja, runic Norse arbija; Indo-European *h₃órbhos perhaps derivative of a verbal base *h₃erbh- "turn, be turned over, undergo transfer" — more at orb entry 1

Verb

derivative of orphan entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1814, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing orphan

• orphan drug
• orphan's court

Rhymes for orphan

• dextromethorphan
• endorphin

Kids Definition

orphan

1 of 2 noun

or·​phan ˈȯr-fən 

1

: a child whose parents are dead

2

: one who has had some protection or advantage taken away

orphans of the storm

orphan adjective

orphanhood

-ˌhu̇d 

noun

orphan

2 of 2 verb

orphaned; orphaning ˈȯrf-(ə-)niŋ 

: to cause to become an orphan

children orphaned by war

Legal Definition

orphan

noun

or·​phan

: a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents

broadly : a child without a parent or guardian