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

Other Word Forms

• paternally adverb
• nonpaternal adjective
• nonpaternally adverb
• unpaternal adjective
• unpaternally 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

Sheeran replied that he had two paternal Irish grandparents, an Irish parent, an Irish passport, and a childhood filled with Irish summer holidays.

From BBC

The boy is now 5 and under the care of his paternal grandmother.

From Los Angeles Times

He writes in the book that his paternal grandfather’s response when Grammer told him of Karen’s murder was, “This family is cursed.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Sherlock and Daughter,” a paternal twist on the Holmes legend and a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Towards Zero” debut on the CW and BritBox, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

He doesn’t buy the paternity story, though, as things go on, he will become, in his Holmesian way, paternal: “It’s odd how concern for your safety affects my concentration.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• benevolent