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Synonyms

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. 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
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of paternity

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

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.

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 UK has a mixed record on maternity and paternity pay, explains Abby Jitendra, policy adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation think tank.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

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

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.