Word
fatherly
Phoneticsfa·ther·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɑðɝɫi/
UK/fˈɑːðəli/
Definition
adj. kind and caring like a good father, especially toward someone younger. You use it for gentle advice, protection, or love.
adj. showing the affection, guidance, or protective care conventionally associated with a father. Often describes an older man's manner toward younger people in his care.
Examples
“He gives the new students fatherly advice.”
“The old coach puts a fatherly hand on the boy's shoulder after the missed goal.”
“She remembers his fatherly patience during those difficult years, when he listened without judgment and guided rather than scolded.”
Examples
simple
“He gives the new students fatherly advice.”
contextual
“The old coach puts a fatherly hand on the boy's shoulder after the missed goal.”
complex
“She remembers his fatherly patience during those difficult years, when he listened without judgment and guided rather than scolded.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fatherly” in context.
Verb
01. look fatherly
“With his grey beard, he looks fatherly and kind.”
verb + adj
Adjective
02. almost fatherly
“He gave me an almost fatherly smile before the exam.”
adv + adj
03. genuinely fatherly
“She appreciated his genuinely fatherly concern for her future.”
adv + adj
Noun
04. fatherly advice
“My uncle gave me wise fatherly advice about work.”
adj + noun
05. fatherly concern
“He showed real fatherly concern for the young players.”
adj + noun
06. fatherly figure
“The coach became a strong fatherly figure for the team.”
adj + noun
07. fatherly love
“The children grew up surrounded by fatherly love.”
adj + noun
08. fatherly pride
“He watched the graduation with obvious fatherly pride.”
adj + noun
09. fatherly tone
“Take care, he said in a calm fatherly tone.”
adj + noun
10. be a fatherly figure
“Mr Lee has been a fatherly figure to many students.”
11. in a fatherly tone
“Don't worry, he said in a fatherly tone.”
12. in a fatherly way
“He spoke to the nervous boy in a fatherly way.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also common after linking verbs such as 'seem' or 'appear'.
Real-World Examples
“Both of these shows offer fatherly advice in different ways – I’m asked to share my old man’s own words of wisdom in Well-Balanced Dads, which by default is a message to my daughter.” Etymology
From Middle English faderly, from Old English fæderlīċ (“fatherly, paternal”), from Proto-West Germanic faderlīk, from Proto-Germanic fadurlīkaz (“fatherly, paternal”), equivalent to father + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian faderlik (“fatherly”), Dutch vaderlijk (“fatherly”), German väterlich (“fatherly”), Danish faderlig (“fatherly”), Swedish faderlig (“fatherly”), Icelandic föðurlegur (“fatherly”) . Doublet of fatherlike.
From Middle English faderly, fadirly, from Old English fæderlīċe (“in a fatherly way, as a father”), equivalent to father + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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