grandfather

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɡræn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)/ or /ˈɡrænˌfɑːðə/
• (US) enPR: grănd′fä'thər, IPA ^(key): /ˈɡræn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/ or [ˈɡr(ʷ)ẽˑə̯̃n(d)ˌfɑˑðɚ]

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Audio (UK)

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• Hyphenation: grand‧fa‧ther

Noun

Singular grandfather

Plural grandfathers

A family tree

1. (countable) A grandfather is the father of a person or animal's parent.
   • Synonyms: grampa, gramps, granddad and grandad

   My grandfather was very old when I was still a boy.

Verb

Plain form grandfather

Third-person singular grandfathers

Past tense grandfathered

Past participle grandfathered

Present participle grandfathering

1. (transitive), (law) When someone is grandfathered, it can continue doing or having something when a new law doesn't allow it.

   The new laws don't allow buildings that are over 50 feet tall, but the skyscrapers that already exist are grandfathered, so they can stay taller than 50 feet.