orphan

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An orphan himself, Lucas is horrified by the idea that Claire will be separated from her baby.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

My own grandmother came here as an orphan when she was 6 or 7 years old.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

They moved on to the titular boxer in "Creed," tormented by his father's legacy, and the villainous Killmonger of "Black Panther," traumatized by being an orphan in a racist world.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

But “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is less concerned about the aristocracy than what life is like for smallfolk like Dunk, an orphan who spent his early childhood scraping by in Flea Bottom.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2026

“The Dickensian orphan boy was Pip from Great Expectations, and he was carrying the letter ‘E,’ making him Pip-E or, you know, Pippi.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein