Definition

The condition of having lost both parents, usually due to their death.

Example

After the tragedy, she faced the challenges of orphanhood with great strength.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how tough orphanhood can be for children?

Yeah, it must be incredibly hard for them to cope without parents.

I read a story about a kid who grew up in orphanhood and it really moved me.

That's so sad; we should do more to support organizations that help orphans.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Orphanhood is formed from "orphan" (from Old French *orphen*, meaning a child whose parents are dead) and "-hood" (meaning a state or condition). The word "orphanhood" refers to the state or condition of being an orphan.

Memory Tip

Think of the state of being an 'orphan' — that's someone whose parents are gone — and '-hood' signifies a condition. So, 'orphanhood' means the condition of being without parents.

Visually Confused Words