forefather

noun

ˈfȯr-ˌfä-t͟hər How to pronounce forefather (audio)
Definition of forefathernext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forefather Our economic systems are not serving the people who live here, whose forefathers established this new republic, and our grandparents actualized the peak of its success. — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Our forefathers believed that democracy was the best means to establish a meritocracy. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2026 Moritz Grossmann was one of the forefathers of German watchmaking in Glashütte. — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026 Many consider the late cultural icon Bruce Lee a forefather of mixed martial arts, as his philosophy of taking what is useful from various fighting styles directly influenced the sport’s development. — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forefather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forefather
  1. ancestor
  2. grandfather
  3. father
Noun
  • At some point in the mid-1850s, the river Padma suddenly carved a new path through the village of his ancestors in modern-day Bangladesh, flooding their homes and scattering them across the Indian subcontinent.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • All across the United States, federal soldiers rounded up our Native American ancestors like cattle, pushing them into prison camps, many of which later became reservations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • When Intocable lead singer and founding member Ricky Muñoz was growing up in Zapata, Texas, his grandfather sold a cow to buy him an accordion.
    — Ernesto Lechner, Variety, 16 July 2026
  • Further inside, a fragment of a gate has a for-sale sign, candles, guayaberas and two colorful chairs — like memories from a grandfather’s house.
    — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of grandfather
Noun
  • Nessie is a native Londoner born to a Singaporean mother and an Egyptian father.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 July 2026
  • As someone who fed on emotion and belonging throughout his career, Keegan had always felt the pull of Newcastle United, the club of his father.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of father

Browse Nearby Words

foredooms
forefather
forefathers
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Cite this Entry

“Forefather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forefather. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of forefather for Spanish Speakers

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