daughter

1 of 2

noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯ-tər How to pronounce daughter (audio)
ˈdä-
plural daughters
1
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 noun
daughterless 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The parents of a girl who was among the victims who perished in flooding waters at Texas’ Camp Mystic in July have condemned the camp's plans to reopen while their daughter’s body remains missing. Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025 Carolyn Smith, the late preacher’s daughter, said her father — like Pendleton a Knoxville College graduate — was instrumental in recruiting Pendleton and other Black educators to teach in San Diego. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025 Violet Affleck, the 19-year-old daughter of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, took the stage at the United Nations this week, calling for urgent action on clean air, pandemic protections, and broader social justice issues. Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025 His daughters’ bodies were nearly 100 yards away down a small embankment, along with zip ties and plastic bags found strewn throughout the area, according to a police affidavit. Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daughter

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of daughter was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daughter. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

daughter

1 of 2 noun
daugh·​ter ˈdȯt-ər How to pronounce daughter (audio)
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 How to pronounce daughter (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on daughter

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