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paternity
[ puh-tur-ni-tee ]
/ pəˈtɜr nɪ ti /
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noun
the state of being a father; fatherhood.
derivation or acquirement from a father.
origin or authorship.
adjective
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.
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Words nearby paternity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use paternity in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for paternity
paternity
/ (pəˈtɜːnɪtɪ) /
noun
- the fact or state of being a father
- (as modifier)a paternity suit was filed against the man
descent or derivation from a father
authorship or originthe paternity of the theory is disputed
Word Origin for paternity
C15: from Late Latin paternitās, from Latin pater father
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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