forefather

noun

fore·​fa·​ther ˈfȯr-ˌfä-t͟hər 

1

: ancestor sense 1a

2

: a person of an earlier period and common heritage

Synonyms

• ancestor
• father
• forebear
• forbear
• forebearer
• grandfather
• primogenitor
• progenitor

Examples of forefather in a Sentence

our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet another way to think of him is as a forefather of the light and space movement of the 1960s and ’70s. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

Our noble forefathers consented to hang anyone who messed with the currency. —Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

On Andor, Luna plays renegade Cassian Andor who ultimately becomes one of the forefathers of the Rebellion in Star Wars. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2025

National Review exists to hold out a lantern in the dark, to help our readers — and each other — to grope through the long night, and to find steadying wisdom of our forefathers. —Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

forefather

noun

fore·​fa·​ther ˈfō(ə)r-ˌfät͟h-ər 

ˈfȯ(ə)r-,

-ˌfȧt͟h-

1

: ancestor sense 1

2

: a person of an earlier period and similar culture