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parenthood

noun

par·​ent·​hood ˈper-ənt-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce parenthood (audio)
: the state of being a parent
specifically : the position, function, or standing of a parent

Synonyms of parenthood

Examples of parenthood in a Sentence

parenthood is a difficult task requiring great commitment
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some predict these efforts could deter parenthood and lead to increases in maternal mortality. Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025 Arnett and Murphy have the experience of parenthood in common. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025 Harp, who lived about twenty minutes down the road and ran a volunteer animal shelter in Austin, had planned carefully for parenthood, building a comfortable life with a lucrative job at a construction company after divorcing her husband more than a decade earlier. Lauren Hilgers, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025 The couple’s journey to parenthood has been marked by both heartbreak and resilience. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parenthood

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parenthood was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“Parenthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parenthood. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on parenthood

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