Synonyms

parental

American

[puh-ren-tl] / pəˈrɛn tl /

adjective

of or relating to a parent.
proper to or characteristic of a parent.

parental feelings.
having the relation of a parent
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

Also called parental unit. Informal. one's parent.

I'm headed for a vacation with the parentals.

Other Word Forms

interparental adjective
nonparental adjective
nonparentally adverb
parentally adverb
postparental adjective
unparental adjective
unparentally adverb

Etymology

Origin of parental

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

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.

Tech companies have been responding to mental health concerns, rolling out new parental controls so parents can keep track of their children’s screen time and moderating harmful content.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

By the age of 10, helped by a precisely plotted parental diary, Jarrell-Searcy had tried gymnastics, baseball, soccer, basketball and swimming.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

“For younger or beginner investors, having parental visibility or approval can be helpful in guiding decision making and reinforcing good habits,” Tobin said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

However, the panel did not find that tuition was intended to be provided without parental consent.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

But that’s not what the parental units want to see on the list.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023