Definition of forefather
1
: ancestor 1a
2
: a person of an earlier period and common heritage
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Examples of forefather in a Sentence
our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations
Recent Examples of forefather from the Web
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Thoreau is considered one of the forefathers of the American environmental movement.
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Fourteen years later, after courts laughed his $70 million lawsuit against CBS out of court, the blog-blaming fake-news forefather has the audacity to hold forth on truth, trust, and accountability.
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More than anything, the news comes as still another wrinkle in the long and somewhat bizarre history of the hair of an American forefather who was widely assumed to have worn a wig.
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James Brown and George Clinton are forefathers of funk, the inspiring agents for mega stars like Michael Jackson and Prince, and the very foundation of the entire genre and culture of music that is hip-hop and rap.
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The corporation is comprised of descendants from Tamina's forefathers, churches, community members and others, including Georgia Carroll, chairwoman of Hundred Hands Alliance, an organization that advances community health and well-being.
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Hey, the pathetic person who is slandering us: Where were your forefathers when Fahreddin Pasha was defending Medina?
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And Abraham, Christ's earthly forefather, was willing to sacrifice his own son to please God.
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Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forefather.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of forefather
14th century
forefather Synonyms
Synonyms
ancestor, father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, grandfather, primogenitor, progenitor;
Antonyms
descendant (also descendent);
Related Words
FOREFATHER Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of forefather for English Language Learners
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: a person (especially a man) who was in your family in past times
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: a person (especially a man) from an earlier time who helped to create or start something modern or important
FOREFATHER Defined for Kids
Learn More about forefather
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See words that rhyme with forefather Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for forefather Spanish Central: Translation of forefather Nglish: Translation of forefather for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of forefather for Arabic speakers
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