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

The logo shows a woman, inspired by her maternal grandmother Maria, with a rose adorning her hair — symbolizing her paternal grandmother Rosa — and her hair in a braid. —Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

Read: How Russia could maintain a foothold in Syria When Bashar faced an Arab Spring uprising in 2011, the paternal genes kicked in. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024

The first talking head in the film is writer and critic Joe Queenan, who speaks simply but movingly of how the Beatles’ music helped dull the pain of an adolescence marred by paternal abuse. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Both of her parents were also born in this country, while her maternal grandparents and paternal grandmother were from the state of Jalisco in Mexico. —Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2024

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

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