Definition

Noun: A homeless child, especially one who has been abandoned or orphaned and lives on the streets, often surviving by begging, stealing, or doing small jobs.

Usage

The term "street child" is used to describe a minor who lives and survives independently on the streets of a city, typically without consistent adult supervision or care. It highlights a severe social issue.

Examples

• The charity organization provides meals and shelter for the street child.
• He was a street child in the capital before being taken in by a social worker.
• The documentary focused on the daily struggles of the street child.

Advanced Usage

• The plural form "street children" is commonly used to refer to this demographic as a group.
  • The program aims to reintegrate street children into society through education.

Variants and Related Words

• Street urchin (noun, somewhat dated/literary): A child who is poor and lives or spends most of their time on the streets.
• Homeless youth (noun phrase): A broader term for young people without a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence.

Synonyms

• Waif: A homeless, neglected, or abandoned child, often implying a frail appearance.
• Gamin (often for a boy) / Gamine (for a girl): A child who is poor, often mischievous, and lives on the streets.

Related Phrases

• Children of the street: A phrase sometimes used interchangeably with "street children," emphasizing their primary domain of life.
• Runaway child: A child who has left home voluntarily, who may or may not become a street child.

Noun

1. a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
   • street children beg or steal in order to survive