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paternity

/pəˈtɛrnədi/
/pəˈtʌnɪti/
IPA guide

Other forms: paternities

Use the noun paternity to describe the relationship a father has to his child. You might say, "His paternity is so clear — his daughter has the same red hair that he does!"

Fatherhood and the connection between a father and child is what paternity is all about, but the word most often comes up in legal situations. Attorneys use the word paternity when there is a question about who a child's biological father is or what kind of financial or legal responsibility he has. The Latin root is paternus, "relating to a father," from pater, "father."

Definitions of paternity
  1. noun
    the state of being a father
    “tests were conducted to determine paternity
    see moresee less
    type of:
    state
    the way something is with respect to its main attributes
  2. noun
    the kinship relation between an offspring and the father
    synonyms: fatherhood
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    type of:
    family relationship, kinship, relationship
    (anthropology) relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption
  3. noun
    the act of initiating a new idea or theory or writing
    synonyms: authorship
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    type of:
    creation, foundation, founding, initiation, innovation, instauration, institution, introduction, origination
    the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘paternity'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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