fatherly

[fah-ther-lee]

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a father.

adverb

1. Obsolete.,  in the manner of a father.

fatherly

/ ˈfɑːðəlɪ /

adjective

1. of, resembling, or suitable to a father

Other Word Forms

• fatherliness noun
• pseudofatherly adverb
• unfatherly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatherly¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English faderly, Old English fæderlic. See father, -ly

Synonym Study

Fatherly, paternal refer to the relationship of a male parent to his children. Fatherly has emotional connotations; it always suggests a kind, protective, tender, or forbearing attitude: fatherly advice. Paternal may suggest a kindly, proprietary attitude: paternal interest; but it may also be used objectively, as a legal and official term: his paternal grandmother; paternal estate.

Example Sentences

Jeff adopted a stern, fatherly tone with his mom, which the documentary illustrates with the missives he left on her answering machine.

From Los Angeles Times

The pontiff resumed some work on Monday and called the Priest of the Parish of Gaza "to express his fatherly closeness", the Vatican added.

From BBC

By that point, Mello has potently established the fatherly warmth his family will sorely miss.

From Los Angeles Times

She said he had asked in "gentle and fatherly way", and that she thought "the leader has the right to be presented in the way he sees fit".

From BBC

Many of the Angels are just a few years into adulthood, requiring Washington and his staff sometimes to sometimes take on fatherly roles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• paternal 

When To Use

What does fatherly mean?

Fatherly is an adjective that most commonly means like a father. It’s especially used in a positive way to describe someone as being kind, nurturing, and protective—like a good father who loves and cares for his child(ren).Describing someone as fatherly often implies that they listen and give good advice—it’s perhaps most commonly used in the phrase fatherly advice. The word paternal can be used to mean the same thing, but it can also be used in a more neutral way that doesn’t imply these positive things, and the same is true of the word parental (which can be used regardless of the parent’s gender).Sometimes, fatherly means of or suitable for a father, as in fatherly instincts. Fatherly is most often used to describe fathers themselves, but it can be applied to someone who’s not a father, as in After my dad died, I started relying on Joe for fatherly support. Fatherly was once used as an adverb meaning in the manner of a father, but this is no longer common.Fatherly is one of many similar adjectives based on family relations, including motherly, grandfatherly, grandmotherly, brotherly, and sisterly.Example: When my stepdad first moved in with us, I could tell that he was trying really hard to be fatherly, and it showed me that he cared.