Pronunciation

/ˈɡrænfɑːðər/

Definitions

• Noun: The father of one’s own parent; a man from whom one is descended through one’s mother or father. For example: “I inherited my love of fishing from my grandfather.”

  • Noun (informal): A respectful or affectionate term for an old man. For instance: “The little boy smiled at the kindly old man, whom he called ‘grandfather’.”

Phrases

• “Grandfather clause”: A provision exempting certain people or groups from new laws, regulations, or requirements because they were already in a particular situation before the new rules were implemented.
• “Grandfather clock”: A tall, freestanding pendulum clock, often with weights and a large face, typically passed down from older generations.

Example Sentences

• Noun (family member): “My grandfather taught me how to play chess when I was young.”
• Noun (informal use): “The wise old grandfather of the village shared stories around the campfire each night.”

Synonyms

• Grandpa
• Gramps
• Granddad
• Grandpapa
• Patriarch (in a family context)
• Forefather (in the sense of ancestor)