grandfather

American  

[gran-fah-ther, grand-] / ˈgrænˌfɑ ðər, ˈgrænd- /

noun

• grandfathers
  plural

1. the father of one's father or mother.

2. a forefather.

3. the founder or originator of a family, species, type, etc.; the first of one's or its kind, or the one being longest in existence.

   the grandfather of all steam locomotives.

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verb (used with object)

1. to exempt (something or someone) from new legislation, restrictions, or requirements.

   The law grandfathered all banks already operating at the time of passage. He was grandfathered into the pension plan.

grandfather British  

/ ˈɡrænˌfɑːðə, ˈɡrænd- /

noun

1. the father of one's father or mother

2. (often plural) a male ancestor

3. (often capital) a familiar term of address for an old man

4. dialect a caterpillar or woodlouse

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• grandfathers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of grandfather

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at grand-, father

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Explanation

Your grandfather is the father of one of your parents. If your grandfather is quite old and has dozens of grandchildren, it might be hard for him to remember your birthday every year. Everyone has two biological grandfathers, whether they've had the chance to know them or not. In some families, grandmothers and grandfathers are involved in raising and caring for their grandchildren, while in others a grandfather may have died or live very far away. Informally, a grandfather can also be someone who started or invented something: "Blues musician Robert Johnson was the grandfather of rock and roll."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grandfather grandfathers

The flight went on as planned, but these men knew my grandfather and heard that his daughters were getting on the plane.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

Speaking following Saturday's decision, their grandfather said "we will help them to return to a normal life".

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

In Pakistan, Sara's grandfather was given temporary custody of her siblings in October 2023.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

After growing up in Mexico, my grandmother moved to California with my grandfather and their children in the 1960s.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

“But the grandfather clock can’t tell you when that might happen.”

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

But for most of my life, they felt like the domain of grandfathers, finance bros and people who knew what vermouth was without having to Google it.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

“We’re asking airmen to strap into jets that their grandfathers, fathers and now they are flying, and it is time for a reset,” said Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

She acknowledged that it was still "not enough" and promised a "special plan for our grandfathers and grandmothers."

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

She said her brothers, aunties, cousins and both her grandfathers had taken part in the past.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2025

There were things of his grandfathers, too, lights and jars and nets, all to do with the moth collecting.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

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Related Words

• ancestor
• grandpa
• patriarch

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