grandfather
English · Thesaurus
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grandfather¹
- /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)/ UK
- /ˈɡɹændˌfɑːðə/ UK
- /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/ US
- [ˈɡɹ̠(ʷ)ẽˑə̯̃n(d)ˌfɑˑðɚ] US
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from Middle English grandfadre, graundfadir, graunfadir, grauntfader, and other forms, from graunt (“big, large; great, important”) + fā̆der (“male parent, father; remoter male ancestor”), probably modelled after Middle French grandpere, grant pere (“male parent; remoter male ancestor”) (whence French grand-père); the English word is analysable as grand- + father. Superseded earlier eldfather, elderfather. The verb is derived from the noun.
noun grandfathers
-
A father of someone's parent.
Grandfather, Father, and Son. The Father diſſeiſeth the Grandfather and dies, the Son endows the Mother, the Grandfather dies, the Son may enter upon the Mother; for he hath a new Right deſcended to him from the Grandfather, for the Grandfather might have entred upon the Mother, ſo ſhall his Heir.
Opposite: grandmother, grandson, abuela, baba, babcia, babulya /babulia (chiefly in Eastern European (especially Russian) contexts), babushka, babusia, babusya /babusia, beldame, bubbe, eldermother
-
A male forefather.
Brethren: Here is the pipe which your grandfathers used to smoke with when they met together in councils of peace. And here is some of that good tobacco, prepared for our grandfathers from God:—When you shall taste of it, you shall feel it through all your body; and it will put you in remembrance of
Similar: highfather, grandsire
- The archived older version of a file that immediately preceded the father file. File C is the grandfather because it was used to create file B.
Similar: ayle, elderfather, eldfather, goodsire, gramp, grampa, gramps, grampop, gran, granda, grandad, grandaddy, granddad, granddaddy, grandfather, grandpa, grandpap, grandpapa, grandpappy, Grandpappy, grandpaw, grandpop, grandsire, granfer, granpappy, granther, nonno, pa, pap, papa · Opposite: grandmother, grandchild, granddaughter, grandson
verb grandfathers · grandfathering · grandfathered
- To be, or act as, a grandfather to.
grandfather²
- /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)/ UK
- /ˈɡɹændˌfɑːðə/ UK
- /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/ US
- [ˈɡɹ̠(ʷ)ẽˑə̯̃n(d)ˌfɑˑðɚ] US
Where it comes from
From grandfather clause: see grandfather (etymology 1) and clause.
verb grandfathers · grandfathering · grandfathered
-
To retain discontinued laws or rules for (an object, individual or organization previously affected by them).
Had the original work been permitted, it would be grandfathered into any code changes each time they occurred, Arvada officials said. The latest came in 2006.
Similar: grandfather in
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: granddad, granddaddy, grandpa, gramps, grandad, great-grandfather, grandparent, pops, grampa, daddy, grandmother, father, grandma, granny, ancestor, old
noun
Similar: ayle, elderfather, eldfather, goodsire, gramp, grampa, gramps, grampop, gran, granda, grandad, grandaddy, granddad, granddaddy, grandfather, grandpa, grandpap, grandpapa, grandpappy, Grandpappy, grandpaw, grandpop, grandsire, granfer, granpappy, granther, nonno, pa, pap, papa · Opposite: grandmother, grandchild, granddaughter, grandson
Translations
Every language
noun male forefather
| Español | abuelo |
|---|---|
| Kiswahili | babu |
| Português | avoengo |
| Français | aïeul |
| Ελληνικά | παππούς pappoús, πάππος páppos |
| Română | străbunic, strămoș, străbun |
noun grandfather (from either side)
| Español | abuelo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 할아버지 harabeoji, 친할아버지 chinharabeoji, 외할아버지 oeharabeoji |
| 日本語 | お爺さん ojiisan, 祖父 sofu, 外祖父 gaisofu |
| 中文 | 爺爺 /爷爷 yéye, 祖父 zǔfù, 外祖父 wàizǔfù, 外公 wàigōng |
| हिन्दी | दादा dādā, नाना nānā |
| Kiswahili | babu |
| Português | avô |
| Français | grand-père, aïeul |
| Deutsch | Großvater, Opa, Opi, Großvater väterlicherseits, Großvater mütterlicherseits |
| Italiano | nonno |
| Ελληνικά | παππούς pappoús, πάππος páppos |
| Română | bunic, tataie, tată mare |
| Русский | де́душка déduška, дед ded, деду́ля dedúlja |
| Tiếng Việt | ông, ôông |
| العربية | جَدّ jadd |
| עברית | סָב sav, סַבָּא sába |
verb to retain existing laws or rules for a thing, person or organization previously affected by them
| Español | anteriorar, vestigiar |
|---|
Talk about this word "grandfather." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/grandfather. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. grandfather. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/grandfather "grandfather." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/grandfather.Cite this
@misc{grandfather_2026,
title = {grandfather},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/grandfather},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
