great-grandfather

[ greyt-gran-fah-ther, -grand- ]

noun

1. a grandfather of one's father or mother.

Word History and Origins

Origin of great-grandfather¹

First recorded in 1505–15

Example Sentences

Martin has always dreamed of taking on his family's farm in the Belfast Hills and building on what his great-grandfather started.

From BBC

Her great-grandfather Alexander Roy MacLeod and his son Malcolm were thought to have drowned together while fishing in the 1850s.

From BBC

This weekend, Rodrigo's tour reached the world's biggest arena, the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena, a show significant for the singer because her great-grandfather emigrated from the Philippines to the US.

From BBC

"It’s not nice. When I took this job it was a job for life in my head," said Mr Beechey, whose family - going back to his great-grandfather - worked in steelmaking.

From BBC

His great-grandfather was a keeper in amateur football in Novo Hamburgo in Brazil, while his older brother Muriel started out in goal at Internacional.

From BBC

More About Great Grandfather

What does great-grandfather mean?

A great-grandfather is the father of a person’s grandparent (the grandfather of a person’s parent).

When a father’s child has their own children, that father becomes a grandfather. When those children have their own children, he becomes a great-grandfather.

Should great-grandfather be capitalized?

Great-grandfather should be capitalized when it’s used as a proper name, as in Please tell Great-grandfather that I miss him. 

But great-grandfather does not need to be capitalized when it’s simply used as a way to refer to him, as in Please tell my great-grandfather that I miss him. 

Example: My kids were lucky enough to get to know three of their great-grandfathers.

Where does great-grandfather come from?

The first records of the word great-grandfather come from the 1500s. The prefix grand- is used in family terms to indicate a person who is one generation removed, as in grandparent and grandchild. The prefix great- indicates yet another generation.

Another great- can be added for each generation. For example, your great-great-grandfather is the father of your great-grandfather. Most people refer to their great-grandfathers with titles like great-grandpa and great-grandpop, sometimes in combination with a name, as in Great-Grandpa Frank.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for great-grandfather?

• great-grandpa

What are some words that share a root or word element with great-grandfather? 

• great-grandmother
• great-grandparent
• grandfather
• father

What are some words that often get used in discussing great-grandfather?

• great-grandchildren
• love
• kindness
• spoil
• special
• care
• family
• patriarch
• matriarch
• ancestor

How is great-grandfather used in real life?

Great-grandfather can be used as a title, but many families use their own unique names. Still, the title that grandchildren use for their grandfather often stays the same even after he becomes a great-grandfather.

I'm trying to figure out how to refer to this vehicle driven by my great-great grandfather. Anyone know if it's more properly described as a wagon or carriage? Photo dates to approximately 1915, probably Dallas area. (Poor hungry horse!) pic.twitter.com/RJeR5jb14C

— Maud Newton (@maudnewton) August 3, 2020

My great aunt found this love letter written in 1936 from my great grandfather to my great grandmother and i – pic.twitter.com/F07vuBXOqJ

— Chelsea Stahl (@chelseastahl) July 26, 2020

Raise your hand if you have a father, grandfather or great-grandfather who was fighting Nazis! They were #Antifa! Anti-Fascist fighters.

— Edan Clay 🇺🇸 (@EdanClay) July 27, 2020

 

 

Try using great-grandfather!

Is great-grandfather used correctly in the following sentence?

I’m a great-grandfather of 18, a grandfather of 12, and a father of four, so I know a thing or two about temper tantrums.