paternalistic C1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /pəˌtɝːnəˈlɪstɪk/ See IPA manual Freq #108124 Meanings 1 adj Looking after people in a kind but controlling way, deciding what is best for them without asking. The company's paternalistic policies treated staff like children who could not be trusted. Thesaurus Word family Derived forms antipaternalisticoverpaternalisticpaternalistically Etymology AI details From paternal + -istic. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # paternalistic **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /pəˌtɝːnəˈlɪstɪk/ **Frequency rank:** 108124 ## Meanings 1. Looking after people in a kind but controlling way, deciding what is best for them without asking. ## Examples - The company's paternalistic policies treated staff like children who could not be trusted. ## Derived Forms - antipaternalistic - overpaternalistic - paternalistically ## Etymology From paternal + -istic. ## AI Etymology Paternalistic is from paternal + -istic. In present-day use, it means looking after people in a kind but controlling way, deciding what is best for them without asking. Derived formations include antipaternalistic, overpaternalistic, and paternalistically. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown