grandfather
gb/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/ us/ɡɹˈændfˌɑðɚ/
A1
English
~ 3600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Father of one's parent
The father of your mother or father.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s grandfather
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grandfather' with 'grandparent', but 'grandfather' refers specifically to a male.
Synonyms
granddad (Informal and affectionate term for grandfather.)
|
grandpa (Informal, commonly used by children.)
Antonyms
grandmother (The female counterpart in the same family relationship.)
Collocations
maternal grandfather
|paternal grandfather
|great-grandfather
|loving grandfather
|visit grandfather
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- My grandfather taught me how to fish.
- Her grandfather was born in Italy.
- 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.
- Her grandfather lives in the city.
- I see my grandfather every week.
- My grandfather tells good stories.
Verb
technical
B2
action
2
Exempt from new regulations
To let someone keep doing something under old rules when new rules start.
Usage pattern:
to grandfather [someone/something] into [a system/rule]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'grandfather in' with 'grant permission', but it specifically means continuing under old rules.
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.)
Collocations
grandfather clause
|grandfathered rights
|grandfathered plan
Themes
law
|business
|regulations
Examples
- The policy will grandfather current members, so they can keep their benefits.
- Old buildings were grandfathered into the new safety code.
- Employees hired before 2010 are grandfathered into the pension plan.
Learner examples
- They will grandfather old members into the new program.
- My phone plan was grandfathered, so I pay less.
- Old cars are grandfathered under the new rules.
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.