Meaning & use
fatherly
Last updated
Characteristic of a father, especially in being kind, protective, or supportive.
See it in a sentence
The old coach offered the rookie some fatherly advice before his first game.
She appreciated her boss's fatherly concern when she was going through a hard time.
A note on using this word
Usually describes warmth and guidance rather than mere biological relation; often used for a mentor or older figure who is not literally the person's father.
Words with a similar meaning
paternalprotective
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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