grandfather
GRAN-fah-thuh
Grandfather (noun) means the father of one's mother or father. Example: “My grandfather taught me how to play chess when I was six.”
noun
1
The father of one's mother or father.
"My grandfather taught me how to play chess when I was six."
"The old clock once belonged to his grandfather on his mother's side."
"Her grandfather fought in the war as a young man."
verb
1
To exempt someone or something from a new rule because they were already operating under the old one.
"The council grandfathered the older shops so they could keep their signs."
"Drivers who already held licences were grandfathered under the previous rules."
"Existing tenants were grandfathered in under the old rent rules."
How to use grandfather
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a noun, your parent's father; as a verb, to let something old avoid a new rule.
Memory tip
The verb use ("grandfathered in") is common in law, business, and software — it means the old version keeps its old privileges.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
grandfather clock
grandfathered in
great-grandfather
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like grandfather.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- grandfathers
- Third person singular
- grandfathers
- Past tense
- grandfathered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My _____ taught me how to play chess when I was six.
Etymology
From Middle English grandfadre, modeled on French grand-père, replacing the older English "eldfather."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grandfather
See all rhymes for grandfather →Frequently asked questions
What does “grandfather” mean?
The word “grandfather” means the father of one's mother or father. In plain terms, as a noun, your parent's father; as a verb, to let something old avoid a new rule.
How do you pronounce “grandfather”?
“Grandfather” is pronounced GRAN-fah-thuh (/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “grandfather” in a sentence?
Here is “grandfather” used in a sentence: “Her grandfather fought in the war as a young man.”
What is another word for “grandfather”?
Words with a similar meaning to “grandfather” include ayle, elderfather, eldfather, goodsire, gramp and grampa.
What is the opposite of “grandfather”?
The opposite of “grandfather” — its antonyms — are grandmother, grandchild, granddaughter and grandson.
What part of speech is “grandfather”?
Depending on how it is used, “grandfather” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “grandfather” come from?
The word “grandfather” comes from French. From Middle English grandfadre, modeled on French grand-père, replacing the older English "eldfather.".
Is “grandfather” a common word?
“Grandfather” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is a "grandfather clause"?
A "grandfather clause" is a provision that lets existing people, businesses, or arrangements keep following the old rules after a new rule is introduced. It is the noun form of the verb sense of grandfather, meaning to exempt from a new requirement.
What is the difference between "grandfather" and "grandparent"?
"Grandfather" refers specifically to the father of one's mother or father, so it is male. "Grandparent" is gender-neutral and covers both a grandfather and a grandmother.
Is "grandfather" written as one word or two?
"Grandfather" is written as a single word, not "grand father." The same applies to related terms like "grandmother" and "grandparent," while "great-grandfather" takes a hyphen.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include grandfather:
