Definition of "patronymic" in English

adjective

1. Derived from one's father.

2. (by extension) Derived from one's ancestors.

   • a patronymic denomination
   • I proposed to her that we give our first-born baby a patronymic name.

noun

1. A name acquired from one's father.

2. (onomastics, by extension) A name acquired from the first name of one's father, grandfather or earlier (male) ancestor. Some cultures use a patronymic where other cultures use a surname or family name; other cultures (like Russia) use both a patronymic and a surname.