daughter

1 of 2

noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯ-tər 

ˈdä-

plural daughters

1

anthropology

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

Singer arranged for a particular proctor to ensure Huffman's daughter scored well on a college entrance exam. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2023

Norberto was a proud Puerto Rican man, according to Soto, who taught his daughter how to stand up for what is right. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2023

The victim’s mother told NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta that the attack left her daughter unrecognizable. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023

Photo by Tim Graham via Getty Images Below, behold 17 of the finest ski ensembles worn by royalty—from Will and Kate Middleton to the coordinated looks of the Duchess of York and her daughters—to inspire your winter style on and off the ski slopes. —Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 30 Nov. 2023

Ryan herself adopted her daughter from China in 2006 at around two years old. —Caitlin Brody, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2023

At a Michigan orchard, a woman tells her three daughters about a long-ago romance. 2. —The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023

Led by his daughter Jessica Rose, the Patriots won on home turf to complete an undefeated season. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023

After her son was taken, Shani fled to another home and hid with her daughters for hours. —William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

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

• prodigal son/daughter
• daughter-in-law

• prodigal son/daughter
• daughter-in-law

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