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Definitions

paternal

[puh-tur-nl] / pəˈtɜr nl /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Cheadle matches the subdued gravity of Ms. Edebiri’s turn, although his tender solicitude has an affecting paternal pride and warmth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The parents of Child C, who described their son as a "sunny child", said Bennett had "seemed clumsy but very paternal", which was something they initially liked.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Like me, my paternal grandfather and my father also held decent white-collar jobs throughout their working lives and invested in the the stock market.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Sam Dalrymple has real Raj pedigree, his paternal grandfather being Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, the aide-de-camp to Frank Messervy, the first commander in chief of the army of independent Pakistan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

DNA from the maternal chromosome can exchange positions with DNA from the paternal chromosome—potentially generating a gene hybrid of maternal and paternal genes.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee




Vocabulary lists containing paternal