grandma

noun

grand·​ma ˈgran(d)-ˌmä 

-ˌmȯ;

ˈgra-ˌmä 

-ˌmȯ

plural grandmas

informal

: the mother of one's father or mother : grandmother

We took the kids to visit their grandma and grandpa.

—often used as a form of address

"Grandma," I said, "is trapping fish legal in this state?"

—Richard Peck

Examples of grandma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Retinol is recommended by tons of beauty experts, and there are an endless number of over-the-counter options to choose from—which is why my grandma, and other consumers like her, likely end up getting decision fatigue and not buying anything despite their aesthetic needs. —Essence Wiley, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026

As such, the kind of shoes once associated with orthopedics (or grandma sandals) has become essential. —Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026

The mystery has gripped the nation, unleashing both outrage and terror at the prospect of a grandma being so easily swept away in the night. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Even the bathrooms evoke memories of home, one decorated like his grandma’s house, and the other evoking a tropical rainforest with the sounds of birds and frogs indigenous to the island. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above