Phrase guide

child support

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The ongoing obligation for a periodic payment made directly or indirectly by an obligor, usually the noncustodial parent, to an obligee, usually the custodial parent or other guardian, for the financial care and support of children of a relationship or marriage that has been terminated, or which never existed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: child maintenance, maintenance

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

court-ordered support paid by one spouse to the other who has custody of the children after the parents are separated

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support payment

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: papgeld — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Chinese Mandarin: 子女撫養費 /子女抚养费 (zǐnǚ fǔyǎngfèi) — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Danish: børnebidrag — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Dutch: kinderalimentatie — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Esperanto: alimento — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Esperanto: nutramono — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Finnish: elatusapu — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Finnish: elatusmaksu — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • French: pension alimentaire — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Georgian: ალიმენტი (alimenṭi) — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • German: Kindesunterhalt — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Russian: алиме́нты (aliménty) — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Spanish: manutención — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Swedish: underhåll — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Swedish: underhållsbidrag — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Thai: ค่าอุปการะเลี้ยงดู (kâa-ùp-bpà-gaa-rá-líiang-duu) — ongoing obligation for periodic payment
  • Turkish: nafaka — ongoing obligation for periodic payment