founding father
noun
1
: an originator of an institution or movement : founder
2
often capitalized both Fs
: a leading figure in the founding of the U.S.
specifically
: a member of the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
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
The founding fathers did not live and die to see this moment.
—
Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
Enter Smith, France, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill of Fears, Bob Ray of Sinclair Harding, and Crispin Jones of Mr. Jones Watches, the founding fathers, along with Audsley, of what was becoming a British watchmakers’ movement.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Written and composed by Miranda with direction by Thomas Kail, the musical — which blends hip-hop, R&B, and classical musical theater to tell the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton — was an immediate hit, and remains one of the hottest tickets on Broadway.
—Sharareh Drury, People.com, 9 June 2025
It’s been 250 years since the start of the American Revolution, and the extent to which our nation has matured into a continent-spanning world power has, no doubt, exceeded the founding fathers’ wildest dreams.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for founding father
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Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
Enter Smith, France, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill of Fears, Bob Ray of Sinclair Harding, and Crispin Jones of Mr. Jones Watches, the founding fathers, along with Audsley, of what was becoming a British watchmakers’ movement.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Written and composed by Miranda with direction by Thomas Kail, the musical — which blends hip-hop, R&B, and classical musical theater to tell the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton — was an immediate hit, and remains one of the hottest tickets on Broadway.
—Sharareh Drury, People.com, 9 June 2025
It’s been 250 years since the start of the American Revolution, and the extent to which our nation has matured into a continent-spanning world power has, no doubt, exceeded the founding fathers’ wildest dreams.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for founding father
Cite this Entry
“Founding father.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/founding%20father. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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