English Reference
noun

daddy

n.
US /ˈdædi/ UK /dˈædi/ dad·dy UK spelling daddies

  1. 01 A1 Beginner Informal

    a name for your father, usually used by children or within a family.

    a familiar, often hypocoristic term for one's father, typically used by children or as an affectionate address within a family unit.

    Simple

    The little girl ran to the door and shouted for her daddy when he got home.

    In context

    In many households, the transition from 'daddy' to 'dad' marks a significant developmental milestone in a child's perception of parental authority.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    the biggest, best, or most important example of something.

    the most prominent, powerful, or definitive instance of a particular class of things.

    Simple

    That new skyscraper is the daddy of all buildings in this city.

    In context

    The 1960 model is often considered the daddy of modern sports cars, setting the standard for every design that followed.

    granddaddykingmaster

Etymology 1

From dad + -y (diminutive suffix).

Etymology 2

From dad + -y (adjectival suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated