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

In August, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about American founding father Alexander Hamilton will mark its 10th anniversary on Broadway, where tickets to the show are still selling at 98-100% capacity each week. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025

That was partially the case, but there was another reason the founding father chose to step aside. —Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025

No, what makes this French-language show about French history so extra, incredibly French is the namesake protagonist: a dashing, seductive, single-earring-wearing spy who also happens to be a founding father of haute cuisine. —Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025

William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and John Dewey are generally seen as the movement’s founding fathers. —Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1892, 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