plural forefathers
1
: a person (especially a man) who was in your family in past times : ancestor
—usually plural
The town is named after one of his forefathers.
2
: a person (especially a man) from an earlier time who helped to create or start something modern or important
—usually plural
our country's forefathers
Cite this Entry
“Forefather.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/forefather. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.
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