single mother: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to informal; common in spoken and written English.
Quick answer
What does “single mother” mean?
A mother who is not married or living with a partner and is raising children alone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mother who is not married or living with a partner and is raising children alone.
Refers to any woman parenting children without a spouse or partner, including divorced, widowed, or never-married mothers, often implying sole responsibility for childcare and finances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; pronunciation and spelling are nearly identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, typically neutral or sympathetic, but context can influence stigma or admiration.
Frequency
Equally frequent in British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “single mother” in a Sentence
be a single motherlive as a single motherraise children as a single motherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “single mother” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She single-mothers her children with dedication.
American English
- She is single-mothering three kids on her own.
adverb
British English
- She works almost single-motherly, managing everything alone.
American English
- She copes single-mother style, balancing work and home.
adjective
British English
- They come from a single-mother family.
American English
- It's a single-mother household in the suburbs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in HR discussions about parental leave or benefits for single parents.
Academic
Common in sociology, psychology, and demography studies on family structures.
Everyday
Frequent in conversations about parenting, social issues, and personal stories.
Technical
Used in legal or social work contexts to describe specific family arrangements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “single mother”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “single mother”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “single mother”
- Using 'single mother' for a mother who is dating but not co-parenting; it specifically denotes raising children without a partner's involvement.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it includes divorced, widowed, or never-married mothers raising children without a partner.
'Single mother' is gender-specific, while 'single parent' can refer to any gender.
Yes, often related to childcare, finances, and work-life balance, though experiences vary.
Perceptions vary; in some contexts, it may carry stigma, while in others, it is seen as a sign of resilience.
A mother who is not married or living with a partner and is raising children alone.
Single mother is usually neutral to informal; common in spoken and written english. in register.
Single mother: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋ.ɡəl ˈmʌð.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋ.ɡəl ˈmʌð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hold down the fort as a single mother”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'single' as alone and 'mother' as parent: a parent managing alone.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often seen as a 'juggling act' or 'pillar of strength', emphasizing multitasking and resilience.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is a neutral synonym for 'single mother'?