# daughter

/ˈdɔtɝ/ (US) · /dˈɔːtɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. female child

noun · CEFR A1

your female child.

For teachers: a female offspring in relation to her parents.

- They have two sons and one daughter who just started university.
- The couple took great pride in their daughter's academic achievements, especially when she was awarded a full scholarship to study medicine.

### 2. physics/science

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

something that is produced from a starting substance, like in radioactive decay.

For teachers: an atom or nuclide formed by the radioactive decay of another atom.

- The scientists measured the amount of the daughter element to find the age of the rock.
- By calculating the ratio between the parent isotope and its daughter product, geologists can determine the precise age of volcanic strata.

Usage: Often used as a modifier, as in 'daughter cell' or 'daughter isotope'.

### 3. linguistics

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a language that developed from an older language.

For teachers: a language that descends from a common ancestor through a process of genetic relationship.

- French and Italian are daughter languages of Latin.
- Historical linguists track phonological shifts to demonstrate how various daughter languages diverged from their Proto-Indo-European ancestor.

### 4. informal address

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Dialect

a way for an older person to speak to a younger woman.

For teachers: a familiar or patronising form of address to a female person from an older or authoritative figure.

- Don't you worry about that, daughter, it will all be fine.
- The old shopkeeper's habit of addressing every female customer as 'daughter' was seen by some as charming and by others as patronising.

Teaching tip: This usage can be perceived as condescending or sexist in modern professional contexts; it is best avoided by learners.

## Examples

- She is the youngest daughter in the family.
- The couple proudly watched their daughter receive her university diploma during the graduation ceremony.
- While the eldest daughter inherited the family estate, the younger siblings were encouraged to pursue independent careers in the city to ensure their own financial stability.

---

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.