godfather
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godfather
- /ˈɡɑdfɑðɚ/ US
- /ˈɡɒdfɑːðə/ UK
Where it comes from
From Middle English godfader, from Old English godfæder (“godfather”), equivalent to god- + father. Cognate with Old Saxon godfadar (“godfather”), Middle Dutch godvader (“godfather”), Danish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Swedish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Icelandic guðfaðir (“godfather”).
noun godfathers
-
A man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a male godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.
Similar: godpa
- Someone who plays a key role in fostering the development of something. The man often touted as the godfather of AI has quit Google, citing concerns over the flood of misinformation, the possibility for AI to upend the job market, and the “existential risk” posed by the creation of a true digital intelligence.
- A mafia leader.
- A small post which is used in repairing a fence. For instance attached to and supporting an existing broken fence post.
verb godfathers · godfathering · godfathered
- To act as godfather or guardian to. Hull objected violently that aid had not been used to extract commitments on postwar economic policy; the joint chiefs had wanted bases; others in the military still wanted Britain to play only a minor, if any, role in the Pacific; and they were all apparently angry at the Treasury for godfathering
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: parent, buddy, mentor, supporter, patron, custodian, boss, co-sponsor, sponsorship, sponsor, don, guardian, champion, keeper, kingpin, nominating
Translations
Every language
noun man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner
| Español | padrino |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 대부 daebu |
| 日本語 | 代父 daifu, 教父 kyōfu, ゴッドファーザー goddofāzā, 名付け親 |
| 中文 | 乾爹 /干爹 gāndiē, 代父 dàifù |
| Português | padrinho |
| Français | parrain |
| Deutsch | Pate, Firmpate, Patenonkel, Taufpate, Gevatter, Taufzeuge |
| Italiano | compare, padrino |
| Ελληνικά | νονός nonós |
| Română | naș, nun |
| Русский | крёстный оте́ц krjóstnyj otéc, крёстный krjóstnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | cha đỡ đầu |
| العربية | عَرَّاب ʕarrāb, إِشْبِين ʔišbīn |
| עברית | סנדק sandak |
Talk about this word "godfather." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/godfather. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. godfather. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/godfather "godfather." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/godfather.Cite this
@misc{godfather_2026,
title = {godfather},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/godfather},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
