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

At the time, my eldest daughter was only 2 years old, and my in-laws were staying with us. —Joan Nathan, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

Their daughter Brittney was born in 1995, while their son Jeffrey was born in 2000, and their son Jordan in 2005. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024

Learning Resources Super Sorting Pie $34 $21 My daughter took to this surprisingly versatile toy as much as my mom’s students did. —Quincy Bulin, Parents, 16 Apr. 2024

Their kids, daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 1, still opened presents. —Sean Gregory / Dallas, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024

Saturday morning family breakfasts were an opportunity for Mario to teach his young daughters about science, explaining how chemical reactions turned pancake batter into a meal. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

Richie, who is mom to daughter Harlow, 16, and son Sparrow, 14, shares her kids with husband Joel Madden. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

Her nine-month-old daughter was also stabbed in the attack and received emergency surgery overnight. —Helen Regan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

John Travolta is celebrating his daughter Ella Bleu! —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

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

• daughter-in-law
• prodigal son/daughter

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