only son

noun

A sole male child, whether one among multiple siblings, or one who has no siblings.

“He was the only son to go to college.”

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Meanings

nounonly son (plural only sons)

plural only sons

  1. A sole male child, whether one among multiple siblings, or one who has no siblings.

    Mr. Doyle, an only son, grew up with the undivided attention of affectionate parents and two doting sisters.

    1991 November 18, Alessandra Stanley, “The Symbols Spawned by a Killing”, in New York Times
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see only, son.

    He was the only son to go to college.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 獨子 /独子
  • 獨子 /独子 (dúzǐ)sole male child
Finnish ainoa poika
  • ainoa poikasole male child
Greek μοναχογιός
  • μοναχογιός (monachogiós)sole male child
Irish aonmhac, mac aonghine
  • aonmhacsole male child
  • mac aonghinesole male child
Russian еди́нственный сын
  • еди́нственный сын (jedínstvennyj syn)sole male child
Spanish hijo único
  • hijo únicosole male child
Tagalog uniko iho
  • uniko ihosole male child
Cite this entry
APA

only son. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/only%20son

MLA

“only son.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/only%20son. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “only son,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/only%20son.

Source: only son on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.