Grandfather
/ˈɡrænfɑːðər/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe father of one's father or mother.
/ˈɡrænfɑːðər/
The father of your parent
My grandfather taught me how to fish.
💡 Simply: Your grandpa! The dad of your mom or dad. Like, when you're playing at your grandfather's house.
👶 For kids: A grandfather is the daddy of your mommy or daddy.
More Examples
I received a letter from my grandfather.
She went to visit her grandfather.
How It's Used
"My grandfather enjoys telling stories about his childhood."
"The genealogist traced her family tree back to her grandfather."
To exempt (a person, business, or practice) from a new law or regulation.
/ˈɡrænfɑːðər/
To allow existing conditions to continue despite new rules
The old building was grandfathered into the new zoning regulations.
💡 Simply: Imagine a new rule about toys. If you already *have* the toy, you get to keep it, even though the new rules say you can't buy it anymore. That's 'grandfathering'.
👶 For kids: Sometimes, new rules come, but the people or things that were already there get to keep doing what they did before. That's called grandfathering.
More Examples
Existing students were grandfathered into the new curriculum.
Companies that were already in operation were grandfathered from the stricter environmental rules.
How It's Used
"The new law grandfathers in existing businesses."
"The regulations will not apply to existing properties; they will be grandfathered in."
From Middle English *grauntfader*, a compound of *graunt* (great, grand) and *fader* (father).
Historically, the term 'grandfather' has consistently referred to a male ancestor.
Memory tip
Think of your parent's father.