noun
Usage
What does godchild mean? A godchild is a person who has one or more godparents—people who have pledged to help with their 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. Godchildren 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 godchild.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of godchild
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at god, child
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:
If you are Al Pacino’s godchild and he has forgotten, as his character Michael Corleone famously said in The Godfather, “it’s not personal.”
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2024
He and his son were currently living with his godchild across the street, but storm damage might force her to move out as well.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2021
A fundraiser was to be held in a few days to benefit the nonprofit Perry’s Posse, which was started by Tanya Roccaforte in memory of her godchild who died of leukemia.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 3, 2018
Q. Don’t like my godchild: I’m the godparent to a kid named “Elizanthonius.”
From Slate ● Jun. 13, 2017
“My concern is for my godchild in there, not for you,” Olanna said.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Tyler had numerous godchildren, more than a dozen nieces and nephews and multiple great-nieces and great-nephews.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Yeoh added that she felt blessed to also have a number of godchildren, nieces and nephews.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2024
And the maid of honor at his wedding — whose children are his godchildren — called him from the Barricks’ home Monday.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2023
He is survived by his wife, actress and acting teacher Caroline Ducrocq, as well as their godchildren Grace, Hamish and Chet.
From Fox News ● Jan. 30, 2022
Tonight is one of her bembé ceremonies to celebrate some of her godchildren.
From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi
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.
