godson
Americannoun
-
godsons
plural
noun
Usage
What does godson mean? A godson is a boy who’s the godchild of one or more godparents—people who have pledged to help with his upbringing, 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. Godsons are often related to their godparents (a boy might be his aunt’s godson, 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 godson.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of godson
before 900; Middle English; Old English godsunu. see origin at god, son
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:
Nansi's godson, Dai Powell, campaigned for greater recognition and said stories of what happened were passed down through his family for decades.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
But if my godson, Quentin Blanton Junior, is in town, I’d go see him perform at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
Mr. Lai is my Catholic godson, so I have a better idea than most about his wife and children.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025
When its founder, Adam Clark Vroman, died in 1916, he left the bookstore to his godson, Alan Sheldon, a Vroman’s employee.
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
The golden godson retrieved it and held it up to a glave to examine it.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Alex Platt, 33, said the retreat had made him consider how he could live life better as a man rooted in compassion and service to others, particularly with his young nieces, godsons, wife and friends.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2023
Friends, godsons, lovers and a former roommate offered illumination on what Harris was like after the investigation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2022
The other page boys were seven-year-old twins John and Brian Mulroney and Jasper Dyer, six, another of Prince Harry's godsons.
From BBC ● May 19, 2018
Even his godsons felt this, though at the same time they were really attached to him and grateful for his hospitality, in itself of a very strange character.
From Fairies Afield by Mrs. (Mary Louisa) Molesworth
And a miser he could not well be called, considering the kind actions I have alluded to, and the steady hospitality he showed to his godsons, Hodge, Giles, and Michael.
From Fairies Afield by Mrs. (Mary Louisa) Molesworth
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
