# daddy

/ˈdædi/ (US) · /dˈædi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/daddy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. father

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

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

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

- The little girl ran to the door and shouted for her daddy when he got home.
- In many households, the transition from 'daddy' to 'dad' marks a significant developmental milestone in a child's perception of parental authority.

### 4. the best example

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- That new skyscraper is the daddy of all buildings in this city.
- The 1960 model is often considered the daddy of modern sports cars, setting the standard for every design that followed.

## Examples

- The little girl ran to her daddy and gave him a hug.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.