grandparent
gb/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənt/ us/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənt/
A2
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
parent of your mother or father
The father or mother of your mother or father.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is the grandparent of [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "grandparent" with "grandfather" and "grandmother". "Grandparent" is gender-neutral and can mean either the grandfather or grandmother. Another common mistake is using "grandparent" when talking about two people; in that case, the correct word is the plural "grandparents" (e.g., "My grandparents live in Italy," not "My grandparent live in Italy").
Synonyms
grandmother (Specifically a female grandparent; gender-specific rather than gender-neutral.)
|
grandfather (Specifically a male grandparent; gender-specific rather than gender-neutral.)
|
ancestor (More general; any relative from earlier generations, not only the parents of your parents.)
Antonyms
grandchild (Refers to the younger generation, the child of your child, which is the reverse relationship of a grandparent.)
|
descendant (General opposite direction in a family tree, referring to those who come after rather than before you.)
Collocations
maternal grandparent
|paternal grandparent
|proud grandparent
|first-time grandparent
|grandparent role
|grandparent rights
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- My grandparent on my mother's side still lives in the village where she grew up.
- Each grandparent wrote a special message in the baby’s scrapbook.
- As a grandparent, he enjoys spoiling the kids and then sending them home.
- She was raised by her grandparent after her parents moved abroad.
- The school invited at least one grandparent to attend Grandparents' Day.
Learner examples
- My grandparent tells me stories before I sleep.
- His grandparent lives in the same house with his family.
- I visit my grandparent every Sunday.
- Her grandparent is 80 years old.
- The child sits next to her grandparent at dinner.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grandparent
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənt/
US/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənt/
Syllables & stress
grand - par - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grandparent
- Plural: grandparents
Word family
Forms
grandparents
noun
Core family
Related words
Advanced or less common
grandparental
adjective
Expressions
grandparent scam
1/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənt skˈæm/
fixed phrase
fraud targeting elderly grandparents
A crime in which someone calls an older person, pretends to be their grandchild in trouble, and asks for money.
Examples
- Police warned seniors about a rising number of grandparent scam cases in the area.
- Her grandmother almost sent money to a stranger during a grandparent scam phone call.
- The article explains how to recognize a grandparent scam and protect your family.
grandparents' rights
1/ɡɹˈændpˌɛɹənts ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
legal rights for grandparents
Legal rights that grandparents may have to see or care for their grandchildren, especially after a divorce or family conflict.
Examples
- Some countries recognize grandparents' rights, allowing them to ask a court for visits with their grandchildren.
- The new law could strengthen grandparents' rights in custody cases.
- They went to court to fight for grandparents' rights after contact with their grandson was suddenly cut off.