parental
/pəˈɹɛn.təl/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: parentals
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Of or relating to a parent.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Befitting a parent; affectionate; tender.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
A person fulfilling a parental role.
Noun
Examples
Nowadays there are all kinds of potential parentals besides parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, step-parents, in-laws, older siblings and cousins, and those in civil unions.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “parental” mean?
Of or relating to a parent.
Is “parental” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.