daughter

1 of 2

noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯ-tər 

ˈdä-

plural daughters

1

anthropology

a

: a female offspring especially of human parents

b

: a female adopted child

c

: a human female descendant

2

: something considered as a daughter

the United States is a daughter of Great Britain

3

chemistry : an atomic species (see species entry 1 sense 1e) that is the product of the radioactive decay (see decay entry 2 sense 5a) of a given element

radon, the daughter of radium

daughterhood

ˈdȯ-tər-ˌhu̇d 

ˈdä-

noun

daughterless

ˈdȯ-tər-ləs 

ˈdä-

adjective

daughter

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter (see daughter entry 1 sense 1)

2

biology : belonging to the first generation of offspring, organelles, or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication

a daughter cell

daughter DNA molecules

Examples of daughter in a Sentence

Noun

We have a daughter and two sons.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More than 20 years later, the woman’s daughter makes a similar journey but emerges with very different results. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024

Despite the prosecutor declining to pursue the case any further, one former detective, Steve Thomas, wrote a book in 2000, JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation, alleging that Patsy accidentally killed her daughter in a fit of rage over a bedwetting incident. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024

Visitors can also view the state’s largest Santa collection, the passion project of the late Wanda Emde, whose dedication to St. Nick began when her daughter brought home a small paper version of him in the 1960s. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

Right now, this pick is under $70, which is 30% off its typical $95 price tag. 2/9 Coach Swinger Bag 20 A shoulder bag is the perfect gift for your teenage daughter, and the Swinger Bag 20 is a stunning pick to add to her growing collection, or serve as her very first Coach bag. —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, doughter, from Old English dohtor; akin to Old High German tohter daughter, Greek thygatēr

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing daughter

• daughter-in-law
• prodigal son/daughter

Kids Definition

daughter

1 of 2 noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯt-ər 

1

a

: a female offspring especially of parents that are human beings

b

: a female adopted child

2

: something considered as a daughter

3

: a form of an element that is the product of the radioactive decay of another element

daughterly

-lē

adjective

daughter

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter

daughter cities

2

: being first generation offspring

daughter cells

Medical Definition

daughter

1 of 2 noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯt-ər 

1

a

: a human female having the relation of child to a parent

b

: a female offspring of an animal

2

: an atomic species that is the product of the radioactive decay of a given element

radon is the daughter of radium

daughter

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter

2

: belonging to the first generation of offspring, organelles, or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication

a daughter cell

daughter chromosomes