latchkey child

noun

: a school-aged child of working parents who must spend part of the day unsupervised (as at home)

called also latchkey kid

Examples of latchkey child in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The first national conference on latchkey children soon followed, bringing together researchers, advocates, policy makers, and child-care providers. Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2024 As a latchkey child of non-European immigrants who has Salt-N-Pepa, Prince and Phil Collins on her summer playlist, Harris — a Dorito-loving, Converse-and-pearls-wearing collaborative leader who doesn’t always seek the spotlight — is ours. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2020 The six competing students range from varied backgrounds such as homeschooled, Catholic school, Boy Scout, latchkey child and prodigy. Philip Potempa, Post-Tribune, 11 July 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of latchkey child was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near latchkey child

Cite this Entry

“Latchkey child.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latchkey%20child. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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