English · Word Candidate

orphan

/ˈɔːfən/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: orphans · orphaning · orphaned

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person, especially a minor, both or (rarely) one of whose parents have died.

Noun

Examples

Rudolf was the bold, bad Baron of traditional melodrama. Irene was young, as pretty as a picture, fresh from a music academy in England. He was the scion of an ancient noble family; she an orphan without money or friends.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person, especially a minor, whose parents have permanently abandoned them.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Deprived of parents (also orphaned).

Adjective

Examples

She is an orphan child.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Remaining after the removal of some form of support.

Adjective

Examples

With its government funding curtailed, the gun registry became an orphan program.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “orphan” mean?

A person, especially a minor, both or (rarely) one of whose parents have died.

Is “orphan” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.