paternal
puh-TUR-nuhl
Paternal (adj) means relating to a father, or inherited through the father's side of the family. Example: “She inherited the house from her paternal grandmother.”
adj
1
Relating to a father, or inherited through the father's side of the family.
"The eldest son was usually given the name of his paternal grandfather, later children those of other relatives."
— Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe, Introduction (1945)
"She inherited the house from her paternal grandmother."
2
Fatherly in manner; caring and protective, sometimes overly controlling.
"He gave the new recruits some paternal advice."
How to use paternal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with fathers — either literally (a father's side of the family) or in manner (fatherly, protective).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
paternal grandmother
paternal instinct
paternal advice
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Word forms
- Plural
- paternals
- Comparative
- more paternal
- Superlative
- most paternal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She inherited the house from her _____ grandmother.
Etymology
From Latin paternus, "of a father," from pater, "father."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for paternal
See all rhymes for paternal →Frequently asked questions
What does “paternal” mean?
The word “paternal” means relating to a father, or inherited through the father's side of the family. In plain terms, to do with fathers — either literally (a father's side of the family) or in manner (fatherly, protective).
How do you pronounce “paternal”?
“Paternal” is pronounced puh-TUR-nuhl (/pəˈtɜɹ.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “paternal” in a sentence?
Here is “paternal” used in a sentence: “She inherited the house from her paternal grandmother.”
What part of speech is “paternal”?
“Paternal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “paternal” come from?
The word “paternal” comes from Latin. From Latin paternus, "of a father," from pater, "father.".
Is “paternal” a common word?
“Paternal” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “paternal” have?
“Paternal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a father, or inherited through the father's side of the family.
