paternal

adjective

pa·​ter·​nal pə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

1

a

: of or relating to a father

offered his children some paternal advice

paternal responsibilities

b

: like that of a father

paternal benevolence

2

: received or inherited from one's male parent

lived and worked on his paternal farm

3

: related through one's father

paternal grandfather

paternally

pə-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of paternal in a Sentence

He did not neglect his paternal responsibilities after the divorce.

Recent Examples on the Web

Others can sit on the blue couch that’s within very easy listening distance; Melvin heads, perhaps somewhat protectively, to the chair that once belonged to his paternal grandmother. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025

Researchers sidestep fraught terminology by dubbing all such cases paternal discrepancy, false paternity, or—Larmuseau’s preferred term—extra-pair paternity (EPP). —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 6 Mar. 2025

Lincoln’s paternal grandfather was Rafael José Díaz-Balart. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025

Malcolm-Jamal Warner is a new addition this season, playing chief inspector Bill Houston in a recurring role and taking on a paternal presence for the MPU. —Abigail Lee, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin paternalis, from Latin paternus paternal, from pater

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for paternal

• diurnal
• eternal
• external
• fraternal
• infernal
• internal
• maternal
• nocturnal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

Kids Definition

paternal

adjective

pa·​ter·​nal pə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: fatherly

paternal advice

2

: received or inherited from one's father

3

: related through the father

a paternal grandfather

paternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin paternalis "fatherly," from earlier paternus (same meaning), from pater "father" — related to padre, patron, pattern