as in ancestor
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations
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Recent Examples of forefather
The series, based on the popular BBC show of the same name, is considered a forefather of Saturday Night Live and other live comedy shows.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Decades later, Margaret’s son moved his famous forefather’s skull yet again, to the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
Howard Miller Company, located in Zeeland, Mich., was founded in 1926 by Howard C. Miller, son of contract furniture legend Herman Miller, a forefather of MillerKnoll.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
How long must a bloodline endure the misdeeds of its forefathers?
—George Pendle, Air Mail, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 July 2025
Decades later, Margaret’s son moved his famous forefather’s skull yet again, to the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
Howard Miller Company, located in Zeeland, Mich., was founded in 1926 by Howard C. Miller, son of contract furniture legend Herman Miller, a forefather of MillerKnoll.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
How long must a bloodline endure the misdeeds of its forefathers?
—George Pendle, Air Mail, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for forefather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forefather
Noun
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The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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This provides excellent evidence that all life on Earth shares one common ancestor.—
Thomas Moynihan,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Robinson’s father also recognized the weapon from news coverage as the same bolt-action rifle his son had inherited from his grandfather, according to court filings.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Her son only enjoyed the signs for a little while before his grandfather moved in in 2017.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their bodies were found with plastic bags over their heads and evidence that their hands had been zip-tied near their father's truck, court documents obtained by USA TODAY showed.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
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Syed’s reunion with his father is even more moving to watch now because the older man passed away about a year ago after a long illness.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forefather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forefather. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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