father

father

noun

Definition of FATHER

1

a male human parent <the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons>

Synonyms dad, daddy, old man, pa, papa (also poppa), pater [chiefly British], pop, sire

Related Words paterfamilias, patriarch; father figure, father image; stepfather

2

a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Sir Isaac Newton is regarded by many as the father of modern science>

Synonyms author, begetter, creator, establisher, founder, founding father, generator, inaugurator, initiator, instituter (or institutor), originator, sire

Related Words cocreator, cofounder; conceiver, contriver, designer, deviser, formulator, innovator, introducer, inventor, spawner; builder, maker, producer; developer, pioneer, researcher, researchist; organizer, promoter; encourager, galvanizer, inspiration, inspirer

Near Antonyms disciple, follower, pupil, student, supporter

3

a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <our fathers founded this nation on the fundamental belief that no person is entitled to rule by divine right>

Synonyms father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, forefather, grandfather, primogenitor, progenitor

Related Words antecessor, predecessor [archaic]; ancestress, foremother, grandmother, matriarch; grandsire [archaic], patriarch, sire [archaic]; ancestry, antecedents, roots

Near Antonyms children, family, issue, lineage, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, stock; daughter, heir, inheritor, scion, son, successor

Antonyms descendant (also descendent)

the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <let us ask humbly for the blessings of our Father in heaven>

Synonyms Allah, Almighty, Author, Creator, Divinity, Eternal, Everlasting, Father, God, Godhead, Jehovah, Lord, Maker, Providence, Supreme Being, Yahweh (also Jahveh or Yahveh)