A father is a man who has a child or children. He is one of the parents of the child. This word is used in everyday life to talk about family.
My father is very kind to me.
Her father works at the bank.
Father can mean a man who starts or creates something new. This use is often in science or ideas. It shows respect for the person who made something important.
He is the father of modern science.
She is the father of this new idea.
Father is a respectful name for a priest in Christian churches. People use this word when talking to or about the priest during services or prayers.
Father John will help us today.
The father gave a prayer at church.
As a verb, to father means to be the male parent of a child. It is mostly used in formal or written English.
He fathered three children in his life.
The man fathered a baby last year.
Father can mean an older man who is important in a family's or group's history. People use it to show respect and to talk about someone who started or led a family or group.
He is the father of our tribe.
Our father built this village long ago.
In stories or traditions, father is used for a person or spirit who creates, protects, or controls something, like time or Christmas. It is a way to give human qualities to these ideas.
Father Time brings the new year.
Father Christmas brings gifts in December.
Father is used in many compound words to show a man who first started or leads something. These include 'godfather' (a sponsor at baptism) or 'fatherland' (a person's country).
The godfather helped the child a lot.
He loves his fatherland deeply.
