parental figures
Those who raise
Parental figures are people who function as parents without necessarily being biological parents.
The term encompasses stepparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, mentors, or anyone who provides the guidance and care typically associated with parenthood: My grandmother and uncle were my main parental figures growing up.
The phrase often appears in discussions of child development and psychology.
- adoptive fatherMan who legally becomes parent
- biological fatherMale progenitor by blood
- legal guardianCourt-appointed child protector
- motherFemale parent
- elderSenior figure of authority
mentor · caretaker · primary caregiver · godparent · progenitor · adoptive family · family unit · Mother Nature · matriarch · moral compass · ancestor · counselor · father · nanny · teacher · adoptive mother · in loco parentis · tribal leader
parental figureschildren
Young human beings
offspring · dependents · kids · wards · progeny
parental figurespeers
Those of equal status
subordinates · equals · friends · dependents · contemporaries
parental, parent, parents, parenthood, parenting, parentage, figure, figures, figured