paternity leave UK /pəˈtɜːnɪti ˌliːv/US /pəˈtɜ(ɹ)nəti ˌliv/ noun1 •A leave of absence from a job for a father to care of a baby.My husband is on a three-month paternity leave while he looks after our newborn baby and I’m working abroad. formspaternity leaves