parental

[ puh-ren-tl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a parent.
2. proper to or characteristic of a parent:

   parental feelings.

3. having the relation of a parent
4. Genetics. pertaining to the sequence of generations preceding the filial generation, each generation being designated by a P followed by a subscript number indicating its place in the sequence.

noun

1. Informal. one's parent: Also called pa·ren·tal u·nit [p, uh, -, ren, -tl , yoo, -nit].

   I'm headed for a vacation with the parentals.

Other Words From

• pa·rental·ly adverb
• inter·par·ental adjective
• nonpa·rental adjective
• nonpa·rental·ly adverb
• postpa·rental adjective
• unpa·rental adjective
• unpa·rental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of parental¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin parentālis “of, belonging to parents,” equivalent to parent- “parent” + -ālis adjective suffix; parent, -al ¹

Example Sentences

From the time she started a literacy center for low-income families, as a young teacher, to her time as principal at Central Elementary in City Heights, which thrived with improved test scores, high staff morale and increased parental involvement.

From Voice of San Diego

Describing itself as a “collection of scientists, parents, and designers,” Nanit focuses almost entirely on products and services geared toward parental child care.

From Popular-Science

Amid echoes of parental warnings that too much TV will “rot your brain,” it’s worth asking if there is value in the tube’s ability to help us escape.

From Popular-Science

Every age has its own parenting wisdom as well as its shameful parental anxieties.

From Washington Post

It is your parental responsibility to build this path forward, so this event can be a lesson learned, not a stain on her entire personhood.

From Washington Post

Most often, the doctrine is invoked by minors seeking an abortion without parental consent.

From The Daily Beast

The same Pediatrics journal notes that 17 states have some form of exception to the standard parental consent requirement.

From The Daily Beast

Some seventy-plus countries currently offer some paternity leave or parental leave days reserved for the father.

From The Daily Beast

The court papers are sealed, but the couple has made it clear they want to be relieved of their parental responsibilities.

From The Daily Beast

The parental fold may be about to envelope you—and yet also drive you mad.

From The Daily Beast

Jacob cheated his brother out of the parental blessing, and lied about God, and lied to his father to accomplish his end.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide composed his face into an expression of parental interest; but within him there was shivering and sickening upheaval.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon after Jane had entered her fourteenth year, she left her grandmother's and returned to her parental home.

From Project Gutenberg

Gradually the girls had won round parental objections and collected the things they would need.

From Project Gutenberg

It was at the crisis of parting at the station that it seemed to me necessary to give William a word of parental advice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fatherly
• maternal
• paternal