What does "daddy" mean?
Father.
Daddy
/ˈdæd.i/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Father.
- Grammar: daddy is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: dad, pa, papa, pop.
- Useful contrasts: mama, mom, mommies.
- Usage evidence: Mummy and Daddy are very nervous.
How to use "daddy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "daddy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "daddy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "daddy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "daddy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "daddy" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dad" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "daddy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Father. childish, usually
- 2 an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk wordnet
- 3 A perfect example, a role model. informal
"the daddy of them all"
- 4 A male lover. informal
"She looked at me with that familiar desire Her eyes lit up like they were on fire She said, "My name's Flo, and you're on the right track, But look here, daddy, I wear furs on my back, So if you want to have fun in this man's land, Let Lincoln and Jackson start shaking hands.""
- 5 A sexually attractive man, particularly—but not exclusively—a father or an older man. slang, vulgar
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 An informal term of address for a man. dated, slang
"Rock 'n' roll is cool, daddy, and you know it!"
- 7 A dominant male partner, often used as an address.
"The guy I've been dating offered to do bondage with me, and I was like "Yes please, daddy.""
- 8 A male juvenile delinquent in a reformatory who dominates the other inmates through threats and violence. slang
"However, what is of interest is that it is clear that the staff have to use the prisoners to run the borstal and thus do not object to, or try to control the inmate subculture that produces 'daddies', violence, sexual assault and racism, […]"
- 9 A stage manager. obsolete, slang
- 10 The person who gives away the bride at a wedding, in the absence of her actual father. obsolete, slang
- 11 An accomplice selected to win the prize in a fraudulent raffle or lottery. obsolete, slang
- 12 The man in charge of a casual ward, generally an elderly pauper. obsolete, slang
Verb
- 1 To father; to sire. Appalachia, transitive
""Just supposin' Mister has daddied a pup here and there," said old man Rivers. "What's wrong with that? Ain't your foxhounds han'some and hard-runnin'?" "But they all pint birds," said my Pa. "Whoever heered of a foxhound pintin' birds?""
Adjective
- 1 Resembling or characteristic of a dad. informal, uncommon
"In 1989, Hollywood brought us Field of Dreams, one of the daddiest dad movies ever."
Proper Noun
- 1 One's father. childish, colloquial
"Jenny's voice broke. “Daddy told me that she and Joey, my baby brother, were killed when I was two.”"
Example
"Mummy and Daddy are very nervous."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "daddy"?
Common synonyms include: dad, pa, papa, pop, abba, authoritative exclamation.
How do you use "daddy" in a sentence?
Mummy and Daddy are very nervous.
How do you pronounce "daddy"?
Pronounced /ˈdæd.i/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From dad + -y (diminutive suffix).
Etymology 2
From dad + -y (adjectival suffix).