father

fa-ther · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A male parent.

  2. 2.

    A man who has an important role in starting or developing something.

  3. 3.

    (Father) A title for a priest, especially in the Roman Catholic Church.

  4. 4.

    (Father) God, as the first person of the Trinity.

  5. 5.

    To be the male parent of.

  6. 6.

    To be responsible for creating or establishing something.

Forms

plural: fathers

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    like father, like son — Sons resemble their fathers.
  • •
    founding father — A person who establishes an institution or movement.
  • •
    father figure — A man who serves as a father substitute.
  • •
    Father's Day — A holiday honoring fathers.
  • •
    Holy Father — The Pope.

Related words

Antonyms: mother
See also: dad, mother, parent, son
Synonyms: dad, pa, papa, patriarch

Etymology

From Old English fæder, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr ("father").