paternal

[ puh-tur-nl ]

adjective

1. characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly:

   a kind and paternal reprimand.

2. of or relating to a father.
3. related on the father's side:

   one's paternal grandfather.

4. derived or inherited from a father:

   paternal traits.

paternal

/ pəˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a father, esp in showing affection, encouragement, etc; fatherly
2. prenominal related through the father

   his paternal grandfather

3. inherited or derived from the male parent

Derived Forms

• paˈternally, adverb

Other Words From

• pa·ternal·ly adverb
• nonpa·ternal adjective
• nonpa·ternal·ly adverb
• unpa·ternal adjective
• unpa·ternal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternal¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Old French paternel, from Late Latin paternālis, equivalent to Latin patern(us) “paternal” ( pater father + -nus adjective suffix) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternal¹

C17: from Late Latin paternālis, from Latin pater father

Synonym Study

See fatherly.

Example Sentences

Only by practice, unless of course you are like my paternal grandmother, Catherine, whom I never knew but who reportedly whipped out crusts so thin and fine you could see your hands through it.

From Washington Post

The findings suggested that paternal and maternal versions of the histone variants are mediating a conflict over how to allocate resources to the offspring during pregnancy.

From Quanta Magazine

My husband read him a children’s book about an Auschwitz survivor, “The Number on My Grandfather’s Arm,” and used it as an entree to tell the story of Sophie, Simon’s paternal grandmother.

From Washington Post

The most familiar model of the nuclear family still includes paternal roles which are inherently patriarchal, and often misogynist.

From Nautilus

Her paternal grandmother, a federal worker, went to court days after Makenzie died, asking for and receiving custody of Anderson’s two other children, who are now 2 and 5 years old.

From Washington Post

Thus, like Michael Corleone, Abel is a man living with a paternal figure looming over his life.

From The Daily Beast

Barrett had chanced to place a paternal hand on her head as he passed the microphone to the student next to her.

From The Daily Beast

It has been helping connect paternal half-siblings with each other and their donors since 2000.

From The Daily Beast

The older brother, Henry McCollum, had come to embrace the real killer as a paternal figure.

From The Daily Beast

Eric Jr. now helped his sobbing mother over to the front pew and his equally grief-stricken paternal grandmother, Gwendolyn Carr.

From The Daily Beast

M. Roland, on the other hand, looked with placid and paternal admiration upon the brilliant girl.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Hammertons face was worth another check; 99 he looked down at her from his high stool in a grave, paternal fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, she brought up her children to the highest respect for paternal authority, however imaginary it was for them.

From Project Gutenberg

Excusez, Monsieur, ce long barbouillage dont j'ai pris la libert de vous importuner, ou pardonnez tout l'amour paternal.

From Project Gutenberg

To-day a magnificent theatre rises on the site forever consecrated to me by those paternal labours, but—but I can never forget it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• benevolent