father

/ˈfɑðər/

/ˈfɑðə/

Other forms: fathers; fathered; fathering

The verb father means to make children. If your dog, Tramp, fathers three puppies with the neighbor's dog, Lady, he is their father.

A father is a male parent. Everyone has a biological father, even if they're not raised by him. You might call your father Dad, Daddy, Papa, Pops, or even Father. A man who helped found something, or invent it, can be called the father of that entity or invention. George Washington is considered a father of the United States, and Alexander Graham Bell is often referred to as the father of the telephone.

Definitions of father

1. noun

   a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
   “his father was born in Atlanta”

   synonyms: begetter, male parent

   antonyms:

   mother

   a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

   types:

   dad, dada, daddy, pa, papa, pappa, pop

   an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

   father-in-law

   the father of your spouse

   old man

   an informal term for your father

   pater

   an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously

   type of:

   parent

   a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
2. noun

   the founder of a family
   synonyms: forefather, sire

   types:

   patriarch

   any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race

   antediluvian, antediluvian patriarch

   any of the early patriarchs who lived prior to the Noachian deluge

   Jacob

   (Old Testament) son of Isaac; brother of Esau; father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel; Jacob wrestled with God and forced God to bless him, so God gave Jacob the new name of Israel (meaning `one who has been strong against God')

   Simeon

   (Old Testament) the 2nd son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel

   type of:

   ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root

   someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
3. noun

   a person who founds or establishes some institution
   “George Washington is the father of his country”

   synonyms: beginner, founder, founding father

   types:

   cofounder

   one of a group of founders

   coloniser, colonizer

   someone who helps to found a colony

   foundress

   a woman founder

   type of:

   conceiver, mastermind, originator

   someone who creates new things
4. noun

   a person who holds an important or distinguished position in some organization
   “the tennis fathers ruled in her favor”

   “the city fathers endorsed the proposal”

   type of:

   leader

   a person who rules or guides or inspires others
5. noun

   the head of an organized crime family
   synonyms: don

   type of:

   chief, head, top dog

   a person who is in charge
6. verb

   make children
   synonyms: beget, bring forth, engender, generate, get, mother, sire

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become