parent

1 of 2

noun

par·​ent ˈper-ənt 

1

a

: one that begets or brings forth offspring

just became parents of twins

b

: a person who brings up and cares for another

foster parents

2

a

: an animal or plant that is regarded in relation to its offspring

The parent brings food to the chicks.

b

: the material or source from which something is derived

Latin is the parent of several languages.

c

: a group from which another arises and to which it usually remains subsidiary

a parent company

parent adjective

parental

pə-ˈren-tᵊl 

adjective

parentally

pə-ˈren-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

parentless

ˈper-ənt-ləs 

adjective

parent

2 of 2

verb

parented; parenting; parents

transitive verb

: to be or act as the parent of : originate, produce

intransitive verb

: to be or act as a parent

Examples of parent in a Sentence

Noun

My parents live in New York.

The form must be signed by a parent or guardian of the child.

The parent brings food to the chicks.

The new plant will have characteristics of both parent plants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Nowadays, my Black Friday post-Turkey meal day is spent in front of my computer, shopping online deals at my parents' kitchen table with my morning coffee. —Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2023

Shark’s cordless vacuum is especially good for pet parents who sweep their floors regularly because the self-cleaning brushroll is designed to avoid hair wrapping. —Alex Nelson, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023

All In the Family: Billboard parent Penske Media Corporation promoted Brooke Jaffe to senior Vice President of public affairs and strategy, effective immediately. —Marc Schneider, Billboard, 24 Nov. 2023

Believe it or not, meal kits make great gifts for everyone, especially for busy parents who can use a break from meal prepping, recent graduates who are spending too much on take out, a best friend who dreads cooking for themselves, or a foodie who wants to try new recipes. —Shanna Shipin, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2023

Right now, there isn’t a whole lot parents can do to make sure their children’s food isn’t contaminated with lead, beyond regularly checking the FDA’s recall page, Breeher said. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023

Therapy is the ideal place for your parents to discuss this challenging issue. —Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023

Breastfeeding has a protective effect against severe RSV Breastfeeding isn't an option for all parents, as some may choose not to breastfeed or cannot breastfeed for a variety of reasons. —Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 23 Nov. 2023

That’s why having a good vacuum is essential for pet parents. —Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2023

Verb

All Together Now In 2019, the dad of four opened up to The New York Times about how parenting his kids differed. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023

And before kids, this Dad was going to avoid using Santa or bribes—all of which are considered out of vogue these days in some corners of parenting social media. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 20 Nov. 2023

That brings us to iShares 0-5 Year High-Yield Corporate Bond ETF, parented by the investment giant BlackRock. —Chris Taylor, wsj.com, 7 Nov. 2023

We are expected to know how to do it all—relationships, careers, homemaking, hobbies—but especially parenting, as though good parenting is biologically encoded in a mother’s DNA. —Sarah Twombly, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2023

These days, Rinaldi and her husband juggle parenting a 5-month-old with their respective jobs. —Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023

While speaking with The Guardian, the Rolling Stones frontman, 80, discussed parenting his son Deveraux, 6, and how his experience with fatherhood has changed over the years. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023

Bravo for your openness to this experience, especially after parenting under an umbrella of fear for the last two years. —Emily Edlynn, Parents, 23 Oct. 2023

Police reports made from Ruby Franke's home address in Utah detail various troubles at the parenting blogger's home since 2020 — three years before she and her business partner were each arrested on six counts of child abuse. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 14 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin parent-, parens "father or mother, progenitor, ancestor," probably from an aorist participle of parere "to give birth to, bring into being, produce" — more at parturient entry 1

Verb

derivative of parent entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1663, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing parent

• adoptive parent
• foster parent
• birth parent
• parent-teacher association
• parent-in-law
• helicopter parent
• single parent
• biological parent

• adoptive parent
• foster parent
• birth parent
• parent-teacher association
• parent-in-law
• helicopter parent
• single parent
• biological parent

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Kids Definition

parent

noun

par·​ent

ˈpar-ənt,

ˈper-

1

a

: one that is a father or mother

b

: an animal or plant that produces offspring

2

: the original source of something

parent adjective

parenthood

-ˌhu̇d

noun

Medical Definition

parent

noun

par·​ent ˈpar-ənt, ˈper- 

1

: one that begets or brings forth offspring

2

: the material or source from which something is derived

parent adjective

parental

pə-ˈrent-ᵊl 

adjective

Legal Definition

parent

noun

par·​ent

1

a

: a person who begets or brings forth offspring

especially : the natural parents of a child born of their marriage

b

: a person who legally adopts a child

c

: a person or entity that owes to a child a legally imposed duty of support

d

: a stepparent where designated by statute

2

: an entity or group that gives rise to or acquires another usually subsidiary entity or group

a parent company

specifically : a corporation that owns a required minimum percentage of the stock of another corporation compare affiliate

parent adjective

parental

pə-ˈren-təl 

adjective

parentally adverb