daughter

1 of 2

noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯ-tər 

ˈdä-

plural daughters

1

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

Another perk of the casual-yet-chic design, according to my daughter? —Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 27 Nov. 2025

Zendaya joins in on the fun, as Shrek's daughter, Felicia. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

Anna Hernandez is a friend of the pastor’s daughters but has no blood relation to the family. —Charlotte Observer, 27 Nov. 2025

Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, in partnership with God Behind Bars, hosted a father-daughter dance on Saturday. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Adjective

from attributive use of daughter entry 1

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

Rhymes for daughter

• blotter
• cotter
• hotter
• mater
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter
• spotter
• squatter
• totter
• trotter

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