grandma
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does grandma mean? Grandma is an informal word for grandmother—the mother of a person’s parent. When a mother’s child has their own children, that mother becomes a grandma. The word ma is an informal way to say mother. Grandma is often combined with a name, especially when a person has two grandmothers that they call Grandma, as in Grandma Marg and Grandma Marie. Should grandma be capitalized?Grandma should be capitalized when it’s used as a proper name, as in Please tell Grandma that I miss her. But grandma does not need to be capitalized when it’s simply used as a way to refer to her, as in Please tell my grandma that I miss her. Example: It doesn’t matter what you call your grandma, as long as you call her.
Etymology
Origin of grandma
Explanation
Your grandma is either your mom's mom or your dad's mom. Some people call their grandma "Granny" or "Nana" or "Oma." Grandma is a very common, informal way to say "grandmother." While the preferences of grandmas vary, many of them enjoy being known as Grandma to their grandchildren. Most people use the word grandmother when they're writing or speaking generally or formally. Grandmama came first, around 1749, and grandma followed at the end of that century.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Olivia said her talent came from her mum and grandma, who can both sing.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
My grandma loves shopping a bit too much, but she shops at thrift stores, so their shopping and entertainment expenses remain low.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026
Hey Mick, as my grandma used to say, “When you point a finger at someone, three point back at you.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026
If your grandma discovered grandpa voted differently, it was after knowing he was kind, reliable and funny.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026
“Where do you think you’re going? Lie down right now,” his grandma scolded.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
