in loco parentis

UK/ɪn ˌləʊkəʊ pəˈɹɛntɪs/

adverb

Assuming the place or position of a parent.

“All persons in loco parentis have a responsibility to care for the child.”

OriginLatin in locō parentis ← ['la ', →
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Meanings

adverbin loco parentis (not comparable)
  1. not comparablelawAssuming the place or position of a parent.

    All persons in loco parentis have a responsibility to care for the child.

Origin

  1. ['la',
  2. Latinin locō parentis
  3. Englishin loco parentis

Borrowed from Latin in locō parentis (“in place of a parent”).

More words from Latin, ['la

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French in loco parentis
  • in loco parentisin loco parentis
German in loco parentis
  • in loco parentisin loco parentis
Italian in loco parentis
  • in loco parentisin loco parentis
Spanish in loco parentis
  • in loco parentisin loco parentis
Cite this entry
APA

in loco parentis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20loco%20parentis

MLA

“in loco parentis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20loco%20parentis. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in loco parentis,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20loco%20parentis.

Source: in loco parentis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.