grandfather

1 of 2

noun

grand·​fa·​ther ˈgran(d)-ˌfä-t͟hər 

1

a

: the father of one's father or mother

b

: ancestor sense 1a

2

: granddaddy sense 2

grandfatherly

ˈgran(d)-ˌfä-t͟hər-lē 

adjective

grandfather

2 of 2

verb

grandfathered; grandfathering; grandfathers

transitive verb

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

Synonyms of grandfather

Noun

• father
• ancestor

Examples of grandfather in a Sentence

Noun

this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Deputies kept Lee Staten’s 11-year-old granddaughter away from a fifth-floor Charlotte courtroom for most of Thursday — but as the man who killed her grandfather prepared to be sentenced, officials escorted her to a row filled with family and gave her a box of tissues. —Julia Coin january 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026

Other film credits include include the role of grandfather to Matt Damon’s character in 1988’s Mystic Pizza, the father of Ethan Hawke’s character in 1989’s Dead Poets Society, and the father of, again, Damon’s character in 1993’s School Ties. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026

Verb

Johnson said that the policy was sent to residents as a reminder and to offer them the ability to grandfather in pets who are over the weight limit. —Nora O’Neill 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2025

The House bill, introduced by GOP Reps. King and Roy Klopfenstein, would grandfather in those already here. —Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1953, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grandfather

• grandfather clause
• grandfather clock

Rhymes for grandfather

• forefather
• godfather
• stepfather
• bother
• father

Kids Definition

grandfather

1 of 2 noun

grand·​fa·​ther ˈgran(d)-ˌfät͟h-ər 

1

: the father of one's father or mother

2

: ancestor sense 1

grandfather

2 of 2 verb

grandfathered; grandfathering

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

Legal Definition

grandfather

transitive verb

grand·​fa·​ther

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

current residents will be grandfathered under the regulation

—often used with in