
Paternity
Legal Context
Often used in legal situations to determine or deny father-child relationships.
The court ordered a paternity test to prove if he was the child’s father.
Colloquial Misuse
Sometimes mistakenly used to mean 'pattern.' Paternity specifically refers to fatherhood.
His paternity was questioned, not the pattern of his behavior.
Cultural Sensitivity
Discussions of paternity can be sensitive; approach the topic with respect to privacy.
She avoided discussing his paternity in public to respect his privacy. Compare with
FatherhoodParenthood
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