fatherly

adjective

fa·​ther·​ly ˈfä-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce fatherly (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or befitting a father
fatherly responsibilities
2
: resembling a father (as in affection or care)
a fatherly old man
fatherliness noun
fatherly adverb

Examples of fatherly in a Sentence

He took a fatherly interest in the careers of younger writers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His father grieved by never mentioning her name again in the house, and the fatherly approval Bono craved was in short supply. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025 Baron was gentle, fatherly, and prim. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 The address that, thanks to Mills’ unmatched talent for multitasking, qualifies him to represent my district while allegedly nurturing and handing out fatherly advice to all these young ladies. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025 The two then had a sweet chat about Mikayla's sourdough progress complete with fatherly encouragement about her starter. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fatherly

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fatherly was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fatherly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatherly. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

fatherly

adjective
fa·​ther·​ly ˈfät͟h-ər-lē How to pronounce fatherly (audio)
ˈfȧt͟h-
1
: of or resembling a father
fatherly responsibilities
2
: showing the affection or concern of a father
fatherly advice
fatherliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fatherly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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