Meaning & Definition of word "Orphan"

Orphan

/ˈɔːrfən/

noun:

  • 1. a child whose parents are deceased.
    • Example: The orphan was taken in by a caring foster family.
  • 2. a person or animal that has lost one or both parents.
    • Example: The puppy was an orphan after being abandoned by its mother.
  • 3. something that is not owned or not taken care of.
    • Example: The orphaned books on the shelf need a new home.

verb:

  • 1. to deprive of a parent or parents.
    • Example: The war orphaned many children who were left without guardians.
  • 2. to leave without the necessary caretakers or supporters.
    • Example: The sudden closure of the school orphaned several students with no alternative education.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old French 'orfeinse', based on Latin 'orphanus', from Greek 'orphanos'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

orphan drug:

A drug developed to treat rare diseases.

orphan works:

Works whose copyright status is unclear or not protected.

social orphan:

A child who has lost their parents due to abandonment or neglect rather than death.

Related Words

orphanage:

A residential institution for children without parents.

orphaned:

Having lost a parent or parents.

foster care:

A system of temporary care for children without parents.

Slang Meanings of orphan

Meaning: To be left alone or abandoned.

Example Sentence: I felt orphaned in that big city after my friends left.

Meaning: To neglect someone or something, leaving it to fend for itself.

Example Sentence: They really orphaned that project when no one showed up to help.