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adj

fatherly

FAH-thuh-lee
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Fatherly (adj) means Kind, protective, and caring in the way typically associated with a good father. Example: “He gave the young intern some fatherly advice before she started the job.”

adj
1
Kind, protective, and caring in the way typically associated with a good father.
"He gave the young intern some fatherly advice before she started the job."

How to use fatherly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWarm, protective, and guiding, in the manner of a caring father.

Common pairings
fatherly advice fatherly concern a fatherly figure
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Word forms

Comparative
more fatherly
Superlative
most fatherly
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He gave the young intern some _____ advice before she started the job.

Etymology

From "father" plus "-ly".

fatherlike

Rhymes for fatherly

See all rhymes for fatherly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fatherly” mean?
The word “fatherly” means kind, protective, and caring in the way typically associated with a good father. In plain terms, warm, protective, and guiding, in the manner of a caring father.
How do you pronounce “fatherly”?
“Fatherly” is pronounced FAH-thuh-lee (/ˈfɑðɚli/ in IPA).
How do you use “fatherly” in a sentence?
Here is “fatherly” used in a sentence: “He gave the young intern some fatherly advice before she started the job.”
What part of speech is “fatherly”?
“Fatherly” is an adjective.