latch-key child

See also: latchkey child

English

Alternative forms

• latchkey child

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

latch-key child (plural latch-key children)

1. (idiomatic) A child who returns home from school to an empty house and therefore must unlock/unlatch the exterior door with a key, especially a child of working or absent parent(s).

Synonyms

• latchkey kid

Translations

A child who returns to an empty house

• Danish: nøglebarn n
• Dutch: sleutelkind (nl) n
• German: Schlüsselkind (de) n
• Icelandic: lyklabarn n
• Norwegian: nøkkelbarn n
• Swedish: nyckelbarn (sv) n