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

Noun

• ancestor
• father
• forebear
• forbear
• forebearer
• forefather
• primogenitor
• progenitor

Examples of grandfather in a Sentence

Noun

this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But in a twist of fate, his estranged grandfather, the notorious outlaw Harland Rust (Baldwin), breaks him out of jail, and the two flee to Mexico. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 May 2025

Brant, Willem and Bonnie are all adults now and Idol is a gleeful grandfather of four, aged 2 to 5. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

Verb

Zoom in: Schumer was under enormous pressure from progressive senators and labor groups to try to grandfather in Democratic control of the NLRB for the first two years of Trump's presidency. —Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

And any repeal effort could grandfather in current borrowers. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

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