parent

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Jennifer Garner opened up about her parenting journey in an exclusive interview with InStyle, published Wednesday. —Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 4 June 2026

Belc is a thoroughly charming narrator of everything from finding meaning in the work of Deb Perelman and Ina Garten to parenting as a trans man to the maddening and joyful mundanity of running a household. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

Throughout the transition, the former couple remained committed to co-parenting their daughters. —Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Between work, caring for her 78-year-old mother − whose symptoms have worsened with age − and parenting two kids, Schlapman often feels the need to be in multiple places at once. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of parent entry 1

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing parent

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

Rhymes for parent

• errant
• aberrant
• apparent
• declarant
• grandparent
• stepparent
• transparent
• semitransparent

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