orphan

/ˈɔrfən/

/ˈɔfən/

Other forms: orphans; orphaned; orphaning

An orphan is someone who has lost both parents. Usually, we think of sad little children when we think of orphans, but anyone whose parents have both died is an orphan.

A home for orphans is no substitute for a house with loving parents, even if they're adopted. Bambi, Annie, and Oliver Twist are probably the most famous orphans. Each lost their parents in different ways, but all of them had their lives similarly changed—they felt adrift without a parent to guide them. Orphans often spend lots of time looking for friends or surrogates to fill the gap left by their deceased parents.

Definitions of orphan

1. noun

   a child who has lost both parents
   type of:

   child, fry, kid, minor, nestling, nipper, shaver, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, youngster

   a young person of either sex
2. noun

   a young animal without a mother
   type of:

   offspring, young

   any immature animal
3. noun

   someone or something who lacks support or care or supervision
   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
4. verb

   deprive of parents
   type of:

   deprive, divest, strip

   take away possessions from someone
5. noun

   the first line of a paragraph that is set as the last line of a page or column
   type of:

   line

   text consisting of a row of words written across a page or computer screen