grandfather
gb/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/ us/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/
A1
English
~ 3600
nagyapa, nagypapa, mentesít az új szabályok alól, meghagy a régi feltételekkel
NOUN
A1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s grandfather
My grandfather taught me how to fish.
A nagyapám tanított meg horgászni.
Her grandfather was born in Italy.
A nagyapja Olaszországban született.
We visited my grandfather last weekend.
His grandfather fought in the war.
The photograph shows my grandfather as a young man.
Learner examples
My grandfather is very kind.
A nagyapám nagyon kedves.
Her grandfather lives in the city.
A nagyapja a városban él.
I see my grandfather every week.
My grandfather tells good stories.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grandfather' with 'grandparent', but 'grandfather' refers specifically to a male.
Meaning
Father of one's parent
Collocations
maternal grandfather
|paternal grandfather
|great-grandfather
|loving grandfather
|visit grandfather
Synonyms
granddad (Informal and affectionate term for grandfather.)
|
grandpa (Informal, commonly used by children.)
Antonyms
grandmother (The female counterpart in the same family relationship.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The father of your mother or father.
The male parent of one's father or mother.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to grandfather [someone/something] into [a system/rule]
The policy will grandfather current members, so they can keep their benefits.
A szabályzat mentesíti a jelenlegi tagokat az új feltételek alól, így megtarthatják a kedvezményeiket.
Old buildings were grandfathered into the new safety code.
A régi épületek az új biztonsági szabályzat bevezetése után is a korábbi előírások szerint maradhattak fenn.
Employees hired before 2010 are grandfathered into the pension plan.
Learner examples
They will grandfather old members into the new program.
A régi tagokat az új programba is a korábbi feltételekkel veszik át.
My phone plan was grandfathered, so I pay less.
A telefonos díjcsomagomat meghagyták a régi feltételekkel, ezért kevesebbet fizetek.
Old cars are grandfathered under the new rules.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'grandfather in' with 'grant permission', but it specifically means continuing under old rules.
Meaning
Exempt from new regulations
Collocations
grandfather clause
|grandfathered rights
|grandfathered plan
Synonyms
exempt (General term for freeing from a rule, without the historical or regulatory context.)
Antonyms
subject (To make someone follow a rule or law.)
Themes
law
|business
|regulations
Definition
To let someone keep doing something under old rules when new rules start.
To allow an existing person, organization, or item to continue under old rules when new rules are introduced.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grandfather
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/
US/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/
Syllables & stress
grand - fath - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grandfather
- Plural: grandfathers
Verb
- Base: grandfather
- 3rd Person Singular: grandfathers
- Present Participle: grandfathering
- Past: grandfathered
Word family
Forms
grandfathers
noun
grandfathering
verb
grandfathered
verb
Core family
Related words
Advanced or less common
grandfatherly
adjective
Expressions
be grandfathered in
1/bˈi ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚd ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
Allowed to keep old rights
To be allowed to keep doing something the old way when new rules start.
Examples
- Our contract was grandfathered in, so we pay less.
- Old users were grandfathered in to avoid losing features.
grandfather clause
1/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
technical
Provision keeping old rules for some
A rule that lets people or things keep old rights when new rules are made.
Examples
- The new law includes a grandfather clause for existing businesses.
- They kept their license because of a grandfather clause.