father

1 of 2

noun

fa·​ther ˈfä-t͟hər How to pronounce father (audio)
plural fathers
1
a(1)
: a male parent
(2)
: a man who has begotten a child
also : a male animal who has sired an offspring
b capitalized
(1)
(2)
: the first person of the Trinity (see Trinity sense 1)
2
: forefather
the founding fathers
3
a
: one related to another in a way suggesting that of father to child
b
: an old man
used as a respectful form of address
4
often capitalized : a pre-Scholastic (see scholastic sense 1a) Christian writer accepted by the church as an authoritative witness to its teaching and practice

called also church father

5
a
: one that originates or institutes
the father of modern science
b
: source
… the sun, the father of warmth and light.Lena M. Whitney
c
: prototype
the father of all libraries in the country
6
: a priest of the regular clergy
broadly : priest
used especially as a title
7
: one of the leading men (as of a city)
usually used in plural
a council of the city fathers
fatherhood noun
fatherless adjective
fatherlike adjective or adverb

father

2 of 2

verb

fathered; fathering ˈfä-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce father (audio)
ˈfät͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: beget
b
: to be the founder, producer, or author of
fathered the improvement plan
c
: to accept responsibility for
2
a
: to fix the paternity or origin of
b
: to place responsibility for the origin or cause of
collected gossip and fathered it on responsible menJ. A. Williamson
3

intransitive verb

: to care for or look after someone as a father might

Examples of father in a Sentence

Noun He became a father when he was 30. He's the father of three small children. He has been like a father to me. He was a father to me after my own father died. Verb He was praised for fathering a plan to improve the city's schools. Paul Revere somehow found room in his small house for the large family he had fathered.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
His father died of lung cancer two years later, an experience that shaped Walz’s views on healthcare policy. Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 In the interview, Jones mentioned knowing Ivanka's father and didn't hold back his opinions about him, expressing a strong distaste for Trump and referring to him in disparaging terms. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
There’s often a deep sense of loss— both of the ability to father a biological child and of the traditional male role as a provider and protector. Priya Oberoi, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Bao Li, a 2-year-old male, was born in Sichuan to father An An and mother Bao Bao. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for father 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English fader, from Old English fæder; akin to Old High German fater father, Latin pater, Greek patēr

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near father

Cite this Entry

“Father.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/father. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

father

1 of 2 noun
fa·​ther ˈfät͟h-ər How to pronounce father (audio)
ˈfȧth-
1
a
: a male parent
b
capitalized : god sense 1
c
capitalized : the first person of the Christian Trinity
2
3
: a man who cares for another as a father might
4
: a man who invents or begins something
the father of modern science
5
: priest
used especially as a title
fatherhood noun
fatherless adjective

father

2 of 2 verb
fathered; fathering ˈfät͟h-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce father (audio)
ˈfȧt͟h-
1
b
: to be the founder, producer, or author of
2
: to treat or care for someone as a father

More from Merriam-Webster on father

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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