paternal

[ puh-tur-nl ]

adjective

1. characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly:

   a kind and paternal reprimand.

2. of or relating to a father.
3. related on the father's side:

   one's paternal grandfather.

4. derived or inherited from a father:

   paternal traits.

paternal

/ pəˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a father, esp in showing affection, encouragement, etc; fatherly
2. prenominal related through the father

   his paternal grandfather

3. inherited or derived from the male parent

Derived Forms

• paˈternally, adverb

Other Words From

• pa·ternal·ly adverb
• nonpa·ternal adjective
• nonpa·ternal·ly adverb
• unpa·ternal adjective
• unpa·ternal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternal¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Old French paternel, from Late Latin paternālis, equivalent to Latin patern(us) “paternal” ( pater father + -nus adjective suffix) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternal¹

C17: from Late Latin paternālis, from Latin pater father

Synonym Study

See fatherly.

Example Sentences

As a wedding present, her sister collected and compiled maternal and paternal family recipes and put them into a book for her.

From Los Angeles Times

“We wouldn’t hug it out ’cause of time, and it felt very paternal too,” Dinklage added.

From Salon

A study at the University of Bath used data from 40,000 households across the UK, and found paternal leave uptake has not increased, and the time off being taken are not longer.

From BBC

Son Christopher Kennedy helped run the Merchandise Mart, the downtown Chicago trade center started by his paternal grandfather.

From Los Angeles Times

The panel heard the girl's parents had given permission for the outing and ruled that his interest in the child had been paternal and not sexual in nature.

From BBC

Related Words

• benevolent