What is parent? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of parent in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of parent

parentnoun
cha, mẹ
/ˈpɛːrənt/

Definition & pronunciation of <strong>parent</strong>

Where does the word parent come from?

The word "parent" originates from the Latin "parens," which means "childbirth" or "produce." This Latin term is derived from the verb "parere," which means "to bear" or "to produce." In English, the word "parent" has been used since the 14th century to refer to the natural or adoptive mother or father of a child. The term can also be used to describe the relationships between other individuals, such as a guardian or caregiver, and the children in their care.

Vocabulary summary parent

type noun

meaning parents

meaning (plural) parents; fathers, ancestors

example our first parents: our ancestors (according to Western mythology, A-dam and E-va)

meaning (figurative) origin

example ignorance is the parent of many evils

Example of vocabulary parentnamespace

a person’s father or mother

He's still living with his parents.
Sue and Ben have recently become parents.
It can be difficult to be a good parent.
her adoptive parents (= who have legally adopted her as their child)
It's not easy being a foster parent (= who looks after a child for a period of time without legally adopting him/her) to these children.

an animal or a plant which produces other animals or plants