as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations
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Recent Examples of forefather
Remember: In 1776, our forefathers had the courage to use the power of the press to call attention to a tyrant by the name of King George.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
The series, based on the popular BBC show of the same name, is considered a forefather of Saturday Night Live and other live comedy shows.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Decades later, Margaret’s son moved his famous forefather’s skull yet again, to the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
The younger members of the Katzenellenbogen clan are certain that their forefathers’ way of life is no longer viable.
—Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
The series, based on the popular BBC show of the same name, is considered a forefather of Saturday Night Live and other live comedy shows.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Decades later, Margaret’s son moved his famous forefather’s skull yet again, to the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
The younger members of the Katzenellenbogen clan are certain that their forefathers’ way of life is no longer viable.
—Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forefather
Noun
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In a personal tie, her paternal ancestors were the owners of the woollen manufacturer and merchant, William Lupton & Co, which was based in Leeds.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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It was owned by the Torriani-Avanti family for more than 300 years, and yes, the same family whose ancestors now rest in Florence’s Santa Croce alongside Michelangelo and Galileo.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There was my mother’s paternal grandfather, owner of 400 acres in South Carolina’s Low Country, murdered under sketchy circumstances, 397 acres of his property stolen from his widow, with no justice whatsoever.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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The accusations came after Harry—who is estranged from William, Kate and his father King Charles—sent a wreath and a handwritten letter to be placed in honor of his grandfather, Prince Philip, at the Burma Star Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in London on September 2025.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Morrow’s daughter, Cheryl, said her father’s work stemmed from his desire to uplift his community.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Davion and Donta King were there to honor their father, Anthony King, a transportation department employee who died in 2013.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forefather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forefather. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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