adjective
- of or relating to a parent.
- proper to or characteristic of a parent: parental feelings.
- having the relation of a parent
- Genetics. pertaining to the sequence of generations preceding the filial generation, each generation being designated by a P followed by a subscript number indicating its place in the sequence.
noun Usually parentals. Also called parental unit.
- Informal. one’s parent (often preceded by the): I’m headed for a vacation with the parentals.
adjective
- of or relating to a parent or parenthood
- genetics designating the first generation in a line, which gives rise to all succeeding (filial) generations
adj.1620s, from Latin parentalis “of parents,” from parens (see parent (n.)). Related: Parentally. adj.
- Of, relating to, or characteristic of a parent.
- Of or designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced.