dad

noun

ˈdad 

plural dads

informal

: a male parent : father entry 1 sense 1

My mom swam and played soccer, my dad surfed, and my brother played basketball.

—Shannon Griggs

Don't get me wrong, I'm a good dad who maintains a cheerful household and greets parenthood with a smile and an open heart.

—Ron Harris

—often used as a name

When is Dad getting home?

Dad, can you give me a ride?

Synonyms of dad

• father
• daddy

Examples of dad in a Sentence

Her mom and dad both said she can't go.

my dad did most of the cooking for dinner because he usually got home earlier than my mom

Recent Examples on the Web

My dad is sorting dinner and my mother is with him in the adjoining room next door. —Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026

My sister, in her own words, took on the role my dad has historically filled on family trips—learning a few words of Italian, asking for the bill, and popping into restaurants to book a table for that evening. —Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026

What started as looking at his dad’s vintage magazines or printing off pictures online grew into something available 24/7. —Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

Also, look how athletic dad is flop. —Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably baby talk

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dad

• dad bod
• dad joke
• deadbeat dad

Rhymes for dad

• ad
• add
• bad
• brad
• cad
• clad
• fad
• gad
• glad
• grad
• had
• lad

Kids Definition

dad

noun

ˈdad 

informal

: father entry 1 sense 1a