founding father

noun

Definition of founding father

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

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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

For Mr Erdogan, the victory marks the last step on the road to a constitution that replaces the parliamentary system put in place by Ataturk, the country’s founding father, with a presidential one. — The Economist, "Erdogan inaugurates a new political era in Turkey," 28 June 2018 The musical hit, featuring book, music and lyrics by Lin Manuel-Miranda, tells the story of one of America’s founding fathers through a musical score that includes hip-hop, rap, jazz, blues, and R&B. — John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press, "'Hamilton,' 'Aladdin' lead Broadway in Detroit lineup for 2018-19," 4 Apr. 2018 George Herbert Walker Bush was America's last great soldier-statesman, a 20th century founding father. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Jon Meacham's Eulogy for George H.W. Bush: Read What the President's Biographer Had to Say," 5 Dec. 2018 From vintage cars to founding fathers, there’s plenty to do in Philly this weekend. — Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "Pa. baseball bat country in trouble, 'fair workweek' finds Council allies | Morning Newsletter," 14 June 2018 Davis pointed out that the freedom of religion was so important to the founding fathers that it was included in the First Amendment, not the last. — David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, "‘Call to prayer’ invoked by area pastors at annual rally," 5 May 2018 By pooling these industries, indispensable for modern warfare, into a single market under a supranational authority, the founding fathers of European integration sought to make another war among Germany, France and Italy impossible. — Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ, "Is Europe Ready to Defend Itself?," 4 Jan. 2019 The recovery community lost a founding father today. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "JFK's Nephew Christopher Lawford Dies at 63," 6 Sep. 2018 Paul Bocuse, Lyon’s epicurean patron saint, who died in January at the age of 91, opened a new chapter in French cooking in his city 40 years ago as a founding father of la nouvelle cuisine. — Jay Cheshes, WSJ, "The Most Innovative Chefs in Lyon, France’s Gastronomic Capital," 24 July 2018

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