fatherhood
Americannoun
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the state of being a father.
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fathers collectively.
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the qualities or spirit of a father.
noun
Usage
What does fatherhood mean? Fatherhood is the state of being a father. A person enters fatherhood when they become a father. This most commonly happens when their child is born, but it can also happen through adoption or by marrying or becoming a partner to someone with children. Fatherhood is a gender-specific version of the term parenthood. Less commonly, fatherhood can refer to all fathers collectively, as in You won’t find a better dad in all of fatherhood. Example: People who have not experienced fatherhood probably shouldn’t be so quick to criticize how dads parent their children.
Etymology
Origin of fatherhood
1350–1400; late Middle English faderhode; replacing Middle English faderheed. See father, -hood
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Fatherhood Institute, which supports men as hands-on fathers and caregivers, also backed Doku.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
Fatherhood is like, ooh man, it’s a process.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2025
Fatherhood, especially of young children with all their needs, is in.
From Salon • Sep. 1, 2024
"Fatherhood may be protective for Black men,"Parker said.
From Science Daily • May 28, 2024
We have considered now some of the great truths of God which have been revealed to us, but the Fatherhood of God in itself, what is it that we know of this?
From Some Essentials of Religion by Bidwell, E. J.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
