paternity leave
Americannoun
noun
-
a period of paid absence from work, in the UK currently two weeks, to which a man is legally entitled immediately after the birth of his child
-
a period of paid or unpaid absence from work granted to a man by his employer immediately after the birth of his child
Etymology
Origin of paternity leave
First recorded in 1970–75
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.
Notably, studies have shown that paid paternity leave is associated with a reduced risk of maternal postpartum health complications and an increased rate of infants receiving their necessary vaccines on time.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
The legislation will give workers access to sick pay and paternity leave from the first day on the job and contains new protections for pregnant women and new mothers.
From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025
The government still plans to bring in new day-one rights to sick pay and paternity leave rights from April 2026.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
The business department confirmed on Thursday that it still plans to bring in day-one sick pay and paternity leave rights from April 2026.
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025
Among the issues raised by MPs included a push for prostate cancer screening, a focus on under-achievement by working-class boys in school, and a campaign to get better paternity leave for men.
From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025
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.
