paternity

American  

[puh-tur-ni-tee] / pəˈtɜr nɪ ti /

noun

1. the state of being a father; fatherhood.

2. derivation or acquirement from a father.

3. origin or authorship.

---

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a legal dispute in which an unwed mother accuses a man of being the father of her child.

   a paternity suit.

paternity British  

/ pəˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. the fact or state of being a father

   2. ( as modifier )

      a paternity suit was filed against the man

2. descent or derivation from a father

3. authorship or origin

   the paternity of the theory is disputed

---

Etymology

Origin of paternity

1400–50; late Middle English paternite < Late Latin paternitās. See paternal, -ity

Example Sentences

Hurley was reduced to tears after describing the effect of the reporting of the paternity row about her son with the American businessman Steve Bing.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

To solve this mystery, the international research team led by the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews used genetic testing to determine paternity.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

In non-human animals, researchers have instead turned to long-term observations of social groups and genetic paternity testing to understand reproductive patterns.

From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026

Thanks to the set up, Amin was able to take two paternity leaves of three weeks each in 2024 and 2025.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

The academicians watched my mother as they played with me, to see how she took their games, their dandling of her beloved son, their demonstration of amiable paternity; and her smile warmed us all.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• ancestry
• birth
• descent
• lineage