granddaddy

noun

grand·​dad·​dy ˈgran-ˌda-dē How to pronounce granddaddy (audio)
variants or less commonly grandaddy
1
2
: one that is the first, earliest, or most venerable of its kind

Examples of granddaddy in a Sentence

the granddaddy of all English mystery novels
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The granddaddy of the city’s culinary scene isn’t some starchy, white-tablecloth restaurant, though. Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 10 May 2025 Then there’s the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the granddaddy of the major indices. Moneyshow, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Now, there is (to our knowledge) no official record — there is certainly no official method for timing applause — but it’s roundly considered that Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth is the granddaddy of them all at 22 minutes. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025 The granddaddy of all medical dramas ran from 1994 to 2009, for 15 old-school, network-length seasons on NBC. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for granddaddy

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of granddaddy was in 1648

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Granddaddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/granddaddy. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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