parens patriae

noun

The government authority to act as the parent of a child or individual to protect them from abusive or negligent parents, legal guardian, or caretaker.

OriginLatin parēns patriae →
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Meanings

nounparens patriae (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawThe government authority to act as the parent of a child or individual to protect them from abusive or negligent parents, legal guardian, or caretaker.

Origin

  1. Latinparēns patriae“parent of the country”
  2. Englishparens patriae

From Latin parēns patriae (“parent of the country”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

parens patriae. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parens%20patriae

MLA

“parens patriae.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parens%20patriae. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “parens patriae,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parens%20patriae.

Source: parens patriae on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.