fatherhood
Americannoun
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the state of being a father.
-
fathers collectively.
-
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.
Join Long Beach artist Alex Gardner for the final days of his first solo exhibition in a decade as he reimagines the meaning of fatherhood at Perrotin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Led by a wellness coach, Dad’s Link Golf Club blends community, fatherhood and fellowship to help dads focus on mental health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Ms. Saxbe advances conversations long deferred and never more necessary, particularly in her arguments for integrating fatherhood and professional goals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
This exploration of the biology of fathers is the most vivid feature of “Dad Brain,” offering a glimpse into our vast evolutionary history and a portal onto today’s multifaceted fatherhood.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
My dear son, you have always had a good heart, and I imagine that fatherhood comes quite naturally to you.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
