godfather

[ god-fah-ther ]

noun

1. a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
2. any male sponsor or guardian.
3. (often initial capital letter) a powerful leader, especially of the Mafia.
4. a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like:

   the godfather of abstract expressionism.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as godfather to; be sponsor or protector for.

godfather

/ ˈɡɒdˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. a male godparent
2. the head of a Mafia family or other organized criminal ring
3. an originator or leading exponent

   the godfather of South African pop

Other Words From

• godfather·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of godfather¹

before 1000; Middle English godfader, Old English godfæder; god, father

Example Sentences

Harry only shares his darkest fears about something evil burgeoning inside him in intimate scenes with his godfather Sirius, which makes Sirius’ sudden and surprising death at the end of the film all the more painful.

From Time

LaBerge, the closest thing to the godfather of the field, pinned down some of its common biological traits—that it occurs in the later stages of REM sleep when rapid eye movement peaks, for example.

From MIT Technology Review

After every draft, they compile each team’s letter-grade assessments from a variety of outlets, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper — the godfather of draftniks.

From FiveThirtyEight

Costell selected her brother and Klimas to be godfathers to both of her children.

From Washington Blade

He told the Times that after the deaths of his parents, he grew up with a godmother who was a domestic and a godfather employed at a mattress factory.

From Washington Post

When Fossella was first elected to Congress in 1997 at age 32, Molinari was described as his political godfather.

From The Daily Beast

Forty-two years after its debut, The Godfather casts a long shadow over American cinema.

From The Daily Beast

Sandra Bullock won for ‘The Blind Side’ and Al Pacino lost for both Godfather movies.

From The Daily Beast

There was Radim Palouš, the sonorous philosophical godfather of Kampademia.

From The Daily Beast

The godfather, Alston, was around back of the building, sitting on a bench at the edge of the playground.

From The Daily Beast

He watched over and protected the misguided woman, consenting to act as godfather to the child she had by Lousteau.

From Project Gutenberg

At 78 one must expect to go to Heaven shortly, but still one's friends will be sorry, no doubt, and Hal loses his godfather.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost immediately after the marriage Lorenzo set out for Milan to visit the new Duke, and stand godfather to his heir.

From Project Gutenberg

If you are chosen godfather, you are expected to send a silver mug to your godchild.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the godfather of typhoid fever, and from being a famous clinician became later a great pathologist.

From Project Gutenberg