founding father

noun

1

: an originator of an institution or movement : founder

2

often Founding Father : a leading figure in the founding of the U.S.

specifically : a member of the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

Synonyms of founding father

• founder
• creator
• father

Examples of founding father in a Sentence

a tribute to Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and the other Founding Fathers

Theodor Herzl is often credited as the founding father of modern Zionism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Or maybe the real problem is that the very notion of a handout goes against the principles our founding fathers loved to mansplain. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 June 2026

The anti-tea sentiment was immortalized in a founding father's now-famous letter. — James Doubek, NPR, 3 July 2026

This country continues to be the greatest experiment in the history of the world because of all of you who believe in what those founding fathers wrote up 250 years ago. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Did some of the key moments in America’s 250 years of existence involve Larry David playing a founding father? — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for founding father

• bother
• forefather
• godfather
• grandfather
• stepfather

Kids Definition

founding father

noun

found·​ing father

ˈfau̇n-diŋ-

1

: one that starts or helps to start an institution or a movement

2

often capitalized : a leading figure in the founding of the U.S.

Legal Definition

founding father

noun

found·​ing fa·​ther

often capitalized both Fs

: a leading figure in the founding of the U.S.

specifically : a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787