a child who has lost both parents
"After his father passed away last year, Sarah realized she was truly an orphan when her grandmother also fell ill and moved to care for him full-time."
someone or something who lacks support or care or supervision
"The new intern felt like an orphan at the company since no mentor had been assigned to guide her through the first month."
the first line of a paragraph that is set as the last line of a page or column
"The editor moved the orphan to the bottom of the next page to avoid leaving it stranded alone on its own."
a young animal without a mother
"The stray kitten was so small and trembling that the shelter staff knew it had to be an orphan, likely left behind after its mother died in the storm."
A person, especially a minor, both or (rarely) one of whose parents have died.
"After his father passed away last year and his mother fell ill shortly after, the little boy became an orphan who now lives in foster care."
deprive of parents
"The fire tragically orphaned the three children who were sleeping in their beds."
To deprive of parents (used almost exclusively in the passive)
"The war orphan had been deprived of both his mother and father when the bomb struck their village."
Deprived of parents (also orphaned).
"After the car crash, the family dog was left alone and effectively became an orphan in our neighborhood."