orphan — A child whose parents are dead
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A child whose parents are dead
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɔːrfən/
Example Sentences
- Harry Potter became an orphan when Voldemort killed his parents, but at least he got magic powers as compensation!
- The kind woman decided to adopt three orphans and suddenly realized her grocery bill tripled.
- Many organizations work to provide education and care for orphaned children around the world.
orphan
NOUN[/ˈɔːrfən/]
A child whose parents are dead

The little orphan clutched a worn teddy bear at the shelter's doorway.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Greek orphanos, meaning 'left alone' or 'bereaved'. It passed through Latin orphanus and Old French orphelin before entering English, retaining its sense of a child deprived of parents.
Breakdown
Greek orphanos (alone, bereaved) → Latin orphanus → Old French orphelin → English orphan, with the suffix -an indicating the state or condition of being parentless.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Harry Potter became an orphan when Voldemort killed his parents, but at least he got magic powers as compensation!”
“The kind woman decided to adopt three orphans and suddenly realized her grocery bill tripled.”
“Many organizations work to provide education and care for orphaned children around the world.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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