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 of Zionism openly discussed ideas for relocating Palestinians, which were usually envisioned as voluntary.
—
Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025
Instead, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, one of Turkey’s founding fathers, reorganized the remnants of the Ottoman army, launched the Turkish War of Independence, and reclaimed the territory that would become modern Turkey.
—Sefa Secen & Serhun Al / Made By History, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
The founding fathers of Zionism openly discussed ideas for relocating Palestinians, which were usually envisioned as voluntary.
—Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father who advocated for strong federal government and economic modernization, laid out a roadmap for government intervention in 1791 to foster domestic manufacturing.
— Made By History, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for founding father
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Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025
Instead, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, one of Turkey’s founding fathers, reorganized the remnants of the Ottoman army, launched the Turkish War of Independence, and reclaimed the territory that would become modern Turkey.
—Sefa Secen & Serhun Al / Made By History, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
The founding fathers of Zionism openly discussed ideas for relocating Palestinians, which were usually envisioned as voluntary.
—Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father who advocated for strong federal government and economic modernization, laid out a roadmap for government intervention in 1791 to foster domestic manufacturing.
— Made By History, Time, 1 Apr. 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 1 May. 2025.
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