paternity

[ puh-tur-ni-tee ]
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noun
  1. the state of being a father; fatherhood.

  2. derivation or acquirement from a father.

  1. origin or authorship.

adjective
  1. noting or pertaining to a legal dispute in which an unwed mother accuses a man of being the father of her child: a paternity suit.

Origin of paternity

1
1400–50; late Middle English paternite<Late Latin paternitās.See paternal, -ity

Words Nearby paternity

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How to use paternity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for paternity

paternity

/ (pəˈtɜːnɪtɪ) /


noun
    • the fact or state of being a father

    • (as modifier): a paternity suit was filed against the man

  1. descent or derivation from a father

  1. authorship or origin: the paternity of the theory is disputed

Origin of paternity

1
C15: from Late Latin paternitās, from Latin pater father

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012