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

As Tunku Varadarajan wrote in these pages last week, India is turning decisively away from the Western ideological foundations of its founding fathers. — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, "The Promise and Peril of Modi’s Triumph," 27 May 2019 Waldo King, 92, the founding father of Seattle’s renowned high-school jazz programs, died in Sutherlin, Oregon, on March 19. — Seattle Times Staff & News Services, The Seattle Times, "This week’s passages," 29 Mar. 2019 The same ideals were known to and shared by our founding fathers. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Read the Full Transcript of Jim Baker's Eulogy for His Close Friend, George H.W. Bush," 6 Dec. 2018 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

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