grandfather

1 of 2

noun

grand·​fa·​ther ˈgran(d)-ˌfä-t͟hər 

1

a

: the father of one's father or mother

b

: ancestor sense 1a

2

: granddaddy sense 2

grandfatherly

ˈgran(d)-ˌfä-t͟hər-lē 

adjective

grandfather

2 of 2

verb

grandfathered; grandfathering; grandfathers

transitive verb

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

Synonyms

Noun

• ancestor
• father
• forebear
• forbear
• forebearer
• forefather
• primogenitor
• progenitor

Examples of grandfather in a Sentence

Noun

this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rust tells the story of a 13-year-old boy (Patrick Scott McDermott) who accidentally kills a rancher in 1880s Wyoming and goes on the run with his grandfather, played by Baldwin as the title character, Harland Rust. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024

The film tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who, left to fend for himself and his younger brother following their parents’ deaths in 1880s Wyoming, goes on the run with his long-estranged grandfather after he’s sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024

Verb

Alarmingly, the proposal would not grandfather in any existing systems, meaning all OUC solar customers will be forced onto this unfair rate plan. —Chelsea Rivera, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2024

Commissioners went a step further and voted to grandfather in commercial projects that are in development review. —Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1953, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grandfather

• grandfather clause
• grandfather clock

Kids Definition

grandfather

1 of 2 noun

grand·​fa·​ther

ˈgran(d)-ˌfät͟h-ər

1

: the father of one's father or mother

2

: ancestor sense 1

grandfather

2 of 2 verb

grandfathered; grandfathering

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

Legal Definition

grandfather

transitive verb

grand·​fa·​ther

: to permit to continue under a grandfather clause

current residents will be grandfathered under the regulation

—often used with in