child support: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Legal, Formal, Administrative, Everyday
Quick answer
What does “child support” mean?
A regular payment made by one parent to another for the financial support of a child or children following separation or divorce.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A regular payment made by one parent to another for the financial support of a child or children following separation or divorce.
The legal obligation and financial responsibility of a noncustodial parent to contribute to the costs of raising their child, as enforced by courts or government agencies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical. Administrative bodies differ (e.g., the Child Maintenance Service in the UK vs. state-level agencies or the Office of Child Support Enforcement in the US). In the UK, the older term 'maintenance' is still used interchangeably in some contexts.
Connotations
Primarily neutral and legal. Can carry emotional weight in personal contexts related to family disputes.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects due to the universality of the legal concept.
Grammar
How to Use “child support” in a Sentence
[Parent A] pays child support to [Parent B] for [the children].The court ordered [Parent] to pay child support.[Parent] is behind on his/her child support.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “child support” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The CMS can **child-support-deduct** payments directly from earnings.
- (less common as verb)
American English
- The court moved to **child-support** the father's wages.
- (rare as verb, 'garnish' is preferred)
adjective
British English
- He has significant **child-support** arrears.
- They attended a **child-support** hearing.
American English
- She filed a **child-support** modification request.
- He faced a **child-support** enforcement action.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in payroll for wage garnishment to fulfill support orders.
Academic
Studied in law, sociology, and economics regarding family policy, poverty, and gender studies.
Everyday
Common topic in conversations about divorce, separation, single parenting, and personal finance.
Technical
Defined precisely in family law statutes; calculations often based on income shares or percentage-of-income models.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “child support”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “child support”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “child support”
- Using as a plural countable noun (*'child supports'). Correct: 'child support payments'.
- Confusing with 'alimony' or 'spousal support', which is for the ex-spouse, not the children.
- Incorrect preposition: *'pay child support for his ex-wife'. Correct: 'pay child support to his ex-wife for their son'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Child support is for the financial benefit of the child. Alimony (or spousal support/maintenance) is financial support paid to a former spouse.
It depends on jurisdiction. In many places, it continues until a certain age (e.g., 18 or 21) or until the child finishes secondary education. The order specifies the duration.
Yes. Either parent can usually petition the court for a 'modification' if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant loss or increase in income.
Enforcement measures vary but can include wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, suspension of driving licences or professional licences, liens on property, and in serious cases, contempt of court charges leading to fines or imprisonment.
A regular payment made by one parent to another for the financial support of a child or children following separation or divorce.
Child support is usually legal, formal, administrative, everyday in register.
Child support: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʧaɪld səˌpɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʧaɪld səˌpɔːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “deadbeat dad (colloquial, pejorative term for a father who avoids paying child support)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SUPPORTing beam holding up a CHILD's future. The financial 'beam' is the regular CHILD SUPPORT payment.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS A PILLAR / FOUNDATION. (e.g., 'Child support is the foundation of the children's wellbeing.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of child support?