as in ancestors
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 forefathers
And while the words may sting, our forefathers would surely agree that the First Amendment exists precisely to protect even the harshest political speech.
—
Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
The composer mashes together elements of forefathers who were themselves notorious mashers-up of traditions.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
The composer mashes together elements of forefathers who were themselves notorious mashers-up of traditions.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forefathers
Noun
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Susanne Hammel-Sawyer grew up in Santa Barbara knowing nearly nothing about the traditions of her Chumash ancestors.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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In October 2024, the lab firm used genealogical mapping, in which unidentified DNA is traced to relatives and ancestors to produce a more precise genetic profile and possible identity, to point to Contreras, according to the affidavit.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Their twins—John and William, named for their grandfathers—were lost.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
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In his latest partnership with Ancestry as part of the organization’s Thank You for Your Service campaign, Bass got to learn even more about both of his grandfathers’ service in the war.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In fact, some famous fathers have doubled that average age, becoming dads past the age of 65.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
7 Nov. 2025
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Husbands and fathers were supposed to meet their major needs for food, shelter, and clothing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forefathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forefathers. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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