daughter

1 of 2

noun

daugh·​ter ˈdȯ-tər How to pronounce daughter (audio)
ˈdä-
plural daughters
1
anthropology
a
: a female offspring especially of human parents
b
: a female adopted child
c
: a human female descendant
2
: something considered as a daughter
the United States is a daughter of Great Britain
3
chemistry : an atomic species (see species entry 1 sense 1e) that is the product of the radioactive decay (see decay entry 2 sense 5a) of a given element
radon, the daughter of radium
daughterhood noun
daughterless adjective

daughter

2 of 2

adjective

1
: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter (see daughter entry 1 sense 1)
2
biology : belonging to the first generation of offspring, organelles, or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication
a daughter cell
daughter DNA molecules

Examples of daughter in a Sentence

Noun We have a daughter and two sons.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In October, Allen missed a Phoenix Suns game against the Los Angeles Lakers to be present for his daughter’s birth, according to the Arizona Republic. Makena Gera, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 Though officers attempted life-saving measures, Ronnie and his daughter were both were declared dead at the scene around 11 a.m. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025 Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Bhad Bhabie has issued a stern warning to Alabama Barker, the daughter of Shanna Moakler and Travis Barker, amid their ongoing feud — and just hours after the rapper's boyfriend Le Vaughn was shot. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 The Army veteran accused in the chilling murder of his wife, her father and a neighbor — as the couple’s 4-year-old daughter watched — made a brief appearance in court Friday morning and pleaded not guilty. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daughter

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, doughter, from Old English dohtor; akin to Old High German tohter daughter, Greek thygatēr

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of daughter was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daughter. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

daughter

1 of 2 noun
daugh·​ter ˈdȯt-ər How to pronounce daughter (audio)
1
a
: a female offspring especially of parents that are human beings
b
: a female adopted child
2
: something considered as a daughter
3
: a form of an element that is the product of the radioactive decay of another element
daughterly
-lē
adjective

daughter

2 of 2 adjective
1
: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter
daughter cities
2
: being first generation offspring
daughter cells

Medical Definition

daughter

1 of 2 noun
daugh·​ter ˈdȯt-ər How to pronounce daughter (audio)
1
a
: a human female having the relation of child to a parent
b
: a female offspring of an animal
2
: an atomic species that is the product of the radioactive decay of a given element
radon is the daughter of radium

daughter

2 of 2 adjective
1
: having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter
2
: belonging to the first generation of offspring, organelles, or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication
a daughter cell
daughter chromosomes

More from Merriam-Webster on daughter

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