Noun Adjective Verb A2–B2 /ˈpeə.rənt/

Parent — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

A mother or father; the organisation in charge; the act of raising a child — one word, three powerful roles.

Quick Definition

parent (noun) — a mother or father; a living thing that produces offspring; an organisation that owns or controls a subsidiary.

parent (adjective) — relating to or belonging to a larger controlling organisation: a parent company.

to parent (verb) — to raise a child; to act as a mother or father towards someone.

What Does Parent Mean?

Parent is one of the first English words many learners encounter, yet it carries more range than it first appears. In everyday speech it refers to a mother or father: "Her parents moved to the UK in the 1990s." In biology it describes any organism that produces offspring. In business and law it functions as an adjective: a parent company owns subsidiaries, and a parent organisation oversees smaller branches.

As a verb, to parent has become increasingly common in modern British and American English. It describes the full range of activities involved in raising a child — providing food, shelter, emotional support, discipline, and guidance: "Research shows that how we parent in the early years shapes a child's development."

The word sits at an interesting intersection of family life, business English, and formal/legal language, making it useful at every CEFR level from A2 upwards.

Etymology

Parent comes from the Latin parentem (nominative parens), the present participle of parere, meaning "to bring forth" or "to give birth to". The word reached Middle English in the 15th century via Old French parent. The same Latin root gives English parturition (the process of giving birth) and underpins the suffix -parous used in scientific terms such as viviparous (giving birth to live young). The adjective parental arrived in the 17th century, and the verb to parent is a 20th-century back-formation.

Example Sentences by Level

SentenceLevel & Note
She learned English so she could help her children with their school work. A2 — everyday family context
My parents both work full-time, so we share the housework at home. B1 — plural noun, domestic context
The school sent a letter asking all parents to attend the meeting on Friday evening. B1 — parent–school communication
The new regulations give employees the right to take parental leave after the birth of a child. B2 — adjective form ‘parental’ in a legal/HR context
The subsidiary was sold off after the parent company restructured its operations across three continents. C1 — adjective ‘parent’ in business English; formal register

Collocations

CollocationExample
single parentShe raised three children as a single parent.
parent companyThe parent company is based in Dublin.
foster parentHe became a foster parent after his own children left home.
adoptive parentHer adoptive parents moved to Scotland when she was five.
parental leaveBoth partners are entitled to shared parental leave.
parental consentThe clinic requires written parental consent for under-16s.
parental guidanceThe film carries a parental guidance certificate.
parent–teacher meetingWe have a parent–teacher meeting next Tuesday.
parent organisationThe charity is affiliated with a larger parent organisation.
to parent effectivelyThe course teaches strategies for parenting effectively.

Usage Notes

Key Points for ESL Learners

Noun vs adjective form: When describing qualities or responsibilities that belong to a parent, use the adjective parental (not parent): parental responsibility, parental rights, parental guidance. However, in fixed compound nouns such as parent company and parent organisation, the word parent itself acts as a modifier.

The verb "to parent": Using parent as a verb is accepted in modern British English but is more common in American English and in formal or academic writing. In casual speech, British speakers more often say "bring up" or "raise": She was raised by her grandparents.

Singular vs plural: When referring to both mother and father together, English uses the plural parents: "her parents are divorced". Using the singular a parent refers to just one person, which may imply a single-parent household in context.

Register: In formal and legal texts, parent or guardian is the standard phrasing. In informal speech, mum and dad is far more natural than my parents for many British speakers.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She has a lot of parent responsibilities.

She has a lot of parental responsibilities. (use the adjective form parental with abstract nouns)

The company is a parent of Google.

The company is the parent company of Google. / Alphabet is Google's parent company. (parent needs a noun after it when used as a modifier)

My parents is working abroad this year.

My parents are working abroad this year. (parents is plural — use a plural verb)

She learned English for help her childrens with school.

She learned English to help her children with school. (children is already plural; use the infinitive after "to")

Related Words

parental parenting parents mother father guardian child family foster offspring subsidiary

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “parent”

What does parent mean in English?
Parent most commonly means a mother or father — someone who has a child. It can also be used as an adjective meaning 'relating to a larger controlling organisation' (e.g. 'parent company'), or as a verb meaning 'to raise a child' (e.g. 'learning how to parent effectively').
How do you pronounce parent?
In British English, parent is pronounced /ˈpeə.rənt/. The stress falls on the first syllable: PEA-rent. The vowel in the first syllable is the 'air' sound, as in 'pair' or 'care'. In American English it is often pronounced /ˈper.ənt/ with a slightly different vowel.
What is the plural of parent?
The plural is parents. It is one of the most common English nouns: 'My parents live in Leeds.' When referring to both mother and father together, English speakers almost always use the plural form: 'Her parents are both teachers.'
What is a parent company?
A parent company is a business that owns or controls one or more other companies, called subsidiaries. For example, 'Alphabet is the parent company of Google.' The adjective use of parent in this sense (parent company, parent organisation) is very common in business English.
What is the verb form of parent?
The verb to parent means to act as a parent — to raise, nurture, and care for a child. It is commonly used in compound forms: parenting (noun/gerund), parented (past tense). Example: 'She read books on how to parent a child with anxiety.'
What is the difference between parent and guardian?
A parent is a biological or adoptive mother or father. A guardian is a person who has been given legal responsibility for a child who is not their own biological child. All parents can be guardians, but not all guardians are parents. The phrase 'parent or guardian' is common in official forms.
What are common collocations with parent?
Common collocations include: single parent, parent company, foster parent, adoptive parent, parent–teacher meeting, parental leave, parental guidance, and to parent a child. In phrasal combinations, parental (the adjective form) is used more often than parent directly: 'parental responsibility', 'parental consent'.
What is the adjective form of parent?
The adjective form is parental, meaning 'relating to a parent': 'parental responsibility', 'parental leave', 'parental guidance'. The word parent itself can also function as a modifier before a noun (parent company, parent organisation), but parental is used when describing qualities or roles belonging to a parent.
What is the etymology of the word parent?
Parent comes from the Latin word parentem (nominative parens), meaning 'one who brings forth' or 'father or mother', derived from the verb parere (to bring forth, to give birth). It entered Middle English in the 15th century via Old French. The Latin root also gives English the word 'parturition' (the process of giving birth).
How can I practise using the word parent in English?
Try LexFizz's Flash Cards and Complete the Sentence exercises to practise parent and its related forms (parental, parenting, parents) in context. You can also study collocations such as 'single parent', 'parent company', and 'parental leave' to sound more natural in both everyday and professional English.