daughter

noun daugh·ter \ ˈdȯ-tər , ˈdä- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of daughter

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 ¹species 1e) that is the product of the radioactive decay (see ²decay 6a) of a given element

radon, the daughter of radium

—

daughterless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See daughter defined for English-language learners

See daughter defined for kids

Examples of daughter in a Sentence

We have a daughter and two sons.

Recent Examples of daughter from the Web

Each year on what would be Hissam’s daughter Brianna’s birthday weekend, the foundation hosts a 5K to raise money for the cause.

— katie parsons, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Race participation medals: Will run for bling," 9 Apr. 2018
Martinez’s mother and Princivalli’s daughter, Gloria Princivalli, recently recalled.

— Chicago Tribune, "Rage, riots, ruin," 9 Apr. 2018
Aimee Rogowski was accompanied by her 12-year-old daughter, Ellie.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Spring cleaning: Volunteers pick up debris along Fox River banks," 8 Apr. 2018
As father and daughter circle one another, old wounds and generational differences are exposed, and blazing truths laid bare.

— andrea simakis, cleveland.com, "Dobama Theatre's 59th season a celebration of women's work, from Annie Baker's 'John' to Jennifer Haley's 'The Nether'," 7 Apr. 2018
As such, the album is a collection of puzzle pieces, jumbled, mixed, and teeming with memories of distant cities, highly personal tales, and a vision of the future in which Nielson’s daughter is the world’s biggest Unknown Mortal Orchestra fan.

— will schube, GQ, "Ruban Nielson Traveled the World to Make the New Unknown Mortal Orchestra Record," 7 Apr. 2018
Her fifth-grade teachers were at the Capitol all this week, and the mother-daughter duo hopes to link up with them on Monday.

— isabella gomez and justin lear, CNN, "They're moms. They're attorneys. They believe they can help end the Oklahoma teacher walkouts," 7 Apr. 2018
Susanna was inspired by her daughter, Emma Larson, 29, a migraine sufferer and one of the central subjects of the film.

— jen ortiz, Marie Claire, "Meet the Mother-Daughter Duo Behind the Migraine Documentary You Need to See ASAP," 6 Apr. 2018
Her bloodline runs through the Earl of Cambridge, in the 14th century, across medieval Muslim Spain, to Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter.

— The Economist, "Muslims consider Queen Elizabeth’s ties to the Prophet Muhammad," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'daughter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of daughter

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

daughter

adjective

Definition of daughter

1 : having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter (see ¹daughter 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

Origin and Etymology of daughter

see ¹daughter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1610

See Words from the same year

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

DAUGHTER Defined for English Language Learners

daughter

noun

Definition of daughter for English Language Learners

: a female child

DAUGHTER Defined for Kids

daughter

noun daugh·ter \ ˈdȯ-tər \

Definition of daughter for Students

1 : a female child or offspring

2 : a woman or girl associated with or thought of as a child of something (as a country, race, or religion)

The book tells the stories of two daughters of Africa.

Medical Dictionary

daughter

noun daugh·ter \ ˈdȯt-ər \

medical Definition of daughter

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

adjective

medical Definition of daughter

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

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See words that rhyme with daughter Spanish Central: Translation of daughter Nglish: Translation of daughter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of daughter for Arabic speakers

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daughter

Definition of daughter

daughterless

Examples of daughter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of daughter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of daughter

daughter

Definition of daughter

Origin and Etymology of daughter

Other Genetics Terms

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DAUGHTER Defined for English Language Learners

daughter

Definition of daughter for English Language Learners

DAUGHTER Defined for Kids

daughter

Definition of daughter for Students

Medical Dictionary

daughter

medical Definition of daughter

daughter

medical Definition of daughter

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