founding father

noun

1. often capitals a person who founds or establishes an important institution, esp a member of the US Constitutional Convention (1787)

Example Sentences

“I’ve always been someone who supports giving power back to the Congress the way our founding fathers originally designed,” Valadao said.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps they will invoke the advice of one founding father, Benjamin Franklin, who wrote that "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

From Salon

Benjamin Franklin, the founding father and inventor, first proposed daylight saving in 1784.

From BBC

Azuka said she was "completely unaware" of his links to slavery, despite him being "a founding father of a slave colony".

From BBC

“The founding fathers didn’t see a need to declare one,” Purdue University language and literacy professor Dr. Wayne Wright told CNN.

From Salon

Quiz

Q: Fill in the blank: "Salchipapas" is a portmanteau of the Spanish words for ______ and ______.

• salt and potatoes
• sausage and French fries
• sardines and French fries

Take the full quiz.Go to all quizzes