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paternity test
noun
: a test especially of DNA or genetic traits to determine whether a given man could be the biological father of a given child
Examples of paternity test in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a paternity test confirmed his relationship with Jason, Karamo prepared to meet his son for the first time.
—Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
Povich, himself a father of three, is best known for hosting a tabloid talk show where paternity tests were revealed to surprised guests.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2023
Hartwell filed for divorce and also demanded that Pulliam undergo a paternity test.
—Maria Yagoda, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023
He's said it should be codified into law that men have greater responsibility, financially or otherwise, when they are confirmed via paternity test to be a father.
—538 and Abc News, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2023
Rather than taking a paternity test, the trio lived under one roof as a family.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2023
On Thursday, the 30-year-old reality star posted a screenshot of a receipt for a paternity test in order to clear the air after he was named in a paternity lawsuit in August by an unidentified woman.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
When prosecutors asked Oswalt to undergo a paternity test, the resulted showed that the likelihood of Oswalt being the child’s father was 99 percent.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2023
The former Maury host, 84, revealed to TMZ that he's launched a new at-home paternity test business one year after his popular daytime show — which often featured guests in paternity disputes — came to an end.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 24 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paternity test.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near paternity test
Cite this Entry
“Paternity test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paternity%20test. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
paternity test
noun
pa·ter·ni·ty test
pə-ˈtər-nət-ē-
: a test especially of DNA or genetic traits to determine whether a given man could be the biological father of a given child
paternity testing
noun
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