Phrase guide

orphan work

noun · 1 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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  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)k

1

noun

Meaning 1

A copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: copyright, intellectual-property, law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 孤兒作品 /孤儿作品 (gū'ér zuòpǐn) — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable
  • French: œuvre orpheline — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable
  • German: verwaistes Werk — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable
  • Italian: opera orfana — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable
  • Japanese: 孤児作品 (koji sakuhin) — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable
  • Spanish: obra huérfana — copyright-protected work for which rightsholders are positively indeterminate or uncontactable