paternal

/pəˈtʌrnl/

/pəˈtʌnəl/

The word paternal describes anything that has to do with fatherhood, like your dad's paternal habit of giving you advice, always including some "when I was a boy..." tales.

Paternal originates from the Old French word of the same spelling, meaning "of a father." For example, your paternal grandparents are your father's parents. (Your mom's parents are your maternal grandparents.) Paternal describes your father specifically, or fatherhood in general, like common paternal activities like father-son fishing trips and making sure the guy who is dating his daughter is respectful and sincere.

Definitions of paternal

1. adjective

   characteristic of a father
   synonyms:

   fatherlike, fatherly

   like or befitting a father or fatherhood; kind and protective

   paternalistic

   benevolent but sometimes intrusive

   patriarchal

   characteristic of a form of social organization in which the male is the family head and title is traced through the male line

   antonyms:

   maternal

   characteristic of a mother

   maternalistic

   showing maternal instincts

   motherlike

   suggestive of or acting like a mother

   motherly

   befitting a mother; warm and nurturing

   matriarchal

   characteristic of a matriarchy
2. adjective

   relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent
   synonyms: maternal, parental
3. adjective

   belonging to or inherited from one's father
   “spent his childhood on the paternal farm”

   “paternal traits”
4. adjective

   related on the father's side
   “a paternal aunt”

   synonyms: agnate, agnatic

   related

   connected by kinship, common origin, or marriage