FCB Health introduces ‘ollipsent’ to name parental grief

For the first time in English, parents who have lost a child now have a word to describe their grief. The Missing Word initiative introduces ollipsent (oh-LIP-sint), giving a name and recognition to one of the most devastating human experiences.

The term was created by FCB Health NY in partnership with the nonprofits Visioning Beyond Violence and Youth Alive! and linguist Chelsea Frazier. It was revealed to parents whose children were killed by gun violence, the leading cause of death for American youth.

Grief made visible

In English, there are words for other losses: a spouse who dies is a widow, and a child who loses a parent is an orphan. Until now, there was no equivalent for parents who lose a child. Ollipsent provides a language for this grief and acknowledges the identity of those affected.

Derived from the Greek word ellipēs, meaning something left unsaid or missing, ollipsent combines this with an “o” to symbolize the ongoing cycle of love and loss, and “ent” to anchor the experience in parental identity.

Immediate impact for parents

Marilyn Washington-Harris, whose son was killed by gun violence: "I am an ollipsent. Now we have a name. Now people can see us."

Congresswoman Lucy McBath, who lost her 17-year-old son Jordan to gun violence, described the experience: "This kind of grief lives in your body. Parents move forward because they have to—but we never fully heal."

Recognition as a step toward healing

The Missing Word aims to make grief visible and provide parents with a term to identify themselves, connect with others, and ensure the stories of their children are not forgotten. Naming grief is seen as the first step toward acknowledgment, healing, and social change.

www.themissingword.com

www.fcbhealthny.com

www.visioningbeyondviolence.org

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