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Maternal vs Paternal - What's the difference?

maternal | paternal | Antonyms |

Paternal is a antonym of maternal.

Paternal is a coordinate term of maternal.



As adjectives the difference between maternal and paternal

is that maternal is of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly while paternal is of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family.

maternal

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly.
    • His weakness seemed to bring out her maternal instincts.
  • Related through the mother, or her side of the family.
    • Toby is my maternal uncle.
  • (anatomy, medicine) Derived from the mother as opposed to the foetus during pregnancy.

    • Derived terms

    * maternal aunt * maternal cousin * maternal death * maternal grandfather * maternal grandmother * maternal uncle

    Antonyms

    * paternal – father

    Coordinate terms

    * avuncular – uncle * materteral – aunt * paternal – father

    paternal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family
    • paternal grandfather
  • Fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father.
  • Received or inherited from one's father.
  • * Dryden
    • their small paternal field of corn
  • Acting as a father
    • paternal filicide

    Derived terms

    * paternalism * paternalistic * paternally * paternal aunt * paternal cousin * paternal grandfather * paternal grandmother * paternal uncle

    Antonyms

    * maternal – mother

    Coordinate terms

    * avuncular – uncle * maternal – mother * materteral – aunt

    Anagrams

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