in loco parentis

1 of 2

adverb

in lo·​co pa·​ren·​tis in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-təs 

: in the place of a parent

school officials acting in loco parentis

in loco parentis

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noun

: regulation or supervision by an administrative body (as at a university) acting in loco parentis

Examples of in loco parentis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Nancy—who, as a teacher, operated in loco parentis—resented many of her students. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 5 July 2022

IHEs act in loco parentis and thus have a duty to care for the safety and security of students on campus. —Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2021

Schools are indeed in loco parentis while the students are in their care. —Arkansas Online, 2 July 2021

In the late 1950s, there was no war to protest against, but there was a policy called in loco parentis, which put school administrators in charge of moral probity. —Steven Levy, Wired, 5 Jan. 2021

The problem with this happening is that so much of government is now in loco parentis. —Zachary Evans, National Review, 23 Apr. 2020

This column isn’t old enough to remember when university faculty were thought to be conscientious adults in loco parentis. —James Freeman, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2018

Acting in loco parentis and under orders from the federal government, administrators form de facto star chambers that act as judge, jury and executioner, without adhering to legal rules of evidence or due process. —Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 26 May 2016

The case significantly weakened the principle of in loco parentis, the legal idea that the school serves in place of the parent while a student is in attendance, and can thus absorb some of a child’s personal rights. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Latin

First Known Use

Adverb

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

in loco parentis

adverb

in lo·​co pa·​ren·​tis in-ˈlō-kō-pə-ˈren-tis 

: in the place of a parent

either parent of a minor, guardian, or a person standing in loco parentis to the minor

—Code of Alabama

Note: In order for a person to be considered in loco parentis, he or she must have intentionally assumed the rights and duties of a parent.

Etymology

Adverb

Latin