godparent
Americannoun
-
godparents
plural
noun
Usage
What does godparent mean? A godparent is a person who has pledged to help with the upbringing of a child, especially in a religious way. In some denominations of Christianity, when a child is baptized, they are sponsored by (usually two) adults who pledge to help in this way. Those adults are the child’s godparents, and the child is their godchild. Godparents are often related to their godchildren (an aunt might be her nephew’s godmother, for example), but they don’t need to be. Godparents also often pledge to become the godchild’s guardian if needed (in the event that the child’s parents die). These terms are all sometimes applied outside of a religious context—parents may choose close relatives or friends to act as godparents for their children without any religious aspect to the relationship. A godparent can still refer to their godchild with that term even after the child becomes an adult. Example: Some people are godparents in name only, but Kelly and Chris spend as much time as they can with their godchildren.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of godparent
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.
See Examples For:
I learned my barista’s favorite drink before they learned mine, and I now track the status of their foster dog with the devotion of a godparent.
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025
The Thomases are intimately involved with the Bolicks family, according to the Post and the Arizona Mirror, which reported Justice Thomas is godparent to the Bolicks’ son.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2024
However, there is no right for anyone to be a godparent at a baptism, the document states.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 9, 2023
“Parents either get really sick or die and they still have teenagers who don’t know if it’s going to be a grandparent, uncle, godparent or a family friend that’s going to help guide them.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2023
He gave his old business partner un abrazo, addressing him as compadre even though neither one was godparent to the other’s children.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Barnes said her godparents were, “instrumental in building this whole community.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025
"It was significant that he said trans men and women could be godparents."
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2025
In the following years, the women started enrolling tens of thousands, earning the nickname of “Madrinas del Obamacare,” or “Obamacare” godmothers, evoking the crucial role godparents play in Latino culture.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 16, 2023
Francis’ latest initiative was a document from the Vatican’s doctrine office asserting that, under some circumstances, transgender people can be baptized and can serve as godparents and witnesses in weddings.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 2023
She raced back to her room and got the black-and-silver camera her godparents had given her for her birthday.
From "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick
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.
