parents

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "parents" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's father or mother or the two of them together, either in the singular or plural. Example sentence: "My parents always taught me the importance of hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says.

The New York Times

"The parents were hoping he would come with some information for them about where the girls may be and what efforts are being done to recover them, but instead to be told he is not coming was not easy for them.

The Guardian

Her parents went to the police.

The Guardian

My parents met on a ship.

The New York Times

The reason this final part is restricted to working parents (much to the anger of those who are lobbying for stay-at-home-mothers) is that this policy has a different motivation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Labour has already promised 25 hours of free care each week for parents of three- and four-year-olds – up from the current 15 hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

Another witness was a British man who was supposed to join Richard Reid in a shoe-bomb attack in December 2001 but who quit the conspiracy during a trip home after his parents warned him that he better not be a terrorist.

The Guardian

Police believe he opened fire at three locations in the western Idaho city of Moscow, killing his landlord, his adoptive mother and a manager at a restaurant his parents frequented.

The Guardian

His production of Ben Jonson's The Devil Is an Ass applied the knife to yards of text, and his West Yorkshire Playhouse production of the children's classic Peter Pan was so dark and grim that one set of parents threatened to sue on the grounds that their child had been traumatised.

The Guardian

'Please don't write about me,' says Carol. 'I always talk too much.' She is still angry about an article written about her daughter which suggested that the 19-year-old, whose parents manage her career, was not being allowed to break free of them.

The Guardian - Film

In reality, grasping that your parents are flawed is unlikely to have any long-term adverse effects (and it is a realisation likely to occur repeatedly throughout one's life).

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of cultural differences in parenting styles and expectations when discussing "parents" in a global context.

Common error

Avoid making assumptions about family structures. Not all children have two "parents"; some may have one, or be raised by grandparents, guardians, or other relatives. Use inclusive language.

Linguistic Context

The word "parents" primarily functions as a plural noun, referring to the individuals who have conceived or adopted a child. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, describing familial relationships and responsibilities. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "parents" is a grammatically correct and frequently used plural noun referring to the individuals who raise a child. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. Usage ranges from informal conversations to formal writing, with primary contexts being News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "mother and father" or "caregivers", "parents" remains a concise and widely understood term. It's crucial to avoid assumptions about family structures and to use inclusive language when discussing "parents".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mother and father

More descriptive and emphasizes both parental figures.

caregivers

Focuses on the role of providing care, not necessarily biological relation.

mother or father

Singular form emphasizing one parental figure.

legal guardians

Emphasizes legal responsibility for a child.

foster parents

Specifically refers to individuals who provide temporary care.

adoptive parents

Specifically refers to individuals who have legally adopted a child.

paternal figures

Describes father-like individuals, not necessarily biological.

maternal figures

Describes mother-like individuals, not necessarily biological.

next of kin

Refers to the closest relatives, which can include parents.

ancestors

Broad term referring to past generations, including parents and grandparents.

FAQs

How to use "parents" in a sentence?

You can use "parents" to refer to a child's mother and father, such as in the sentence, "The "parents" attended the school meeting."

What's the difference between "parents" and "caregivers"?

"Parents" specifically refers to the mother and father of a child, while "caregivers" is a broader term that includes anyone who provides care for a child, such as grandparents, guardians, or foster "parents".

What can I say instead of "parents"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mother and father", "legal guardians", or "adoptive parents".

Is it always necessary to specify both "parents"?

No, it is not always necessary. If you are referring to a single parent, use "parent". If the context involves only mothers or fathers, use "mothers" or "fathers" respectively.