grandparent

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The father or mother of one of your parents; a grandmother or grandfather.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural 'grandparents' to mean both of them together.

   Patterns

   • my grandparents
   • one of my grandparents
   • a grandparent of someone

   My grandparents live in a small town near the coast.

   Both of her grandparents came to the wedding.

   As a grandparent, he enjoys taking the children to the park.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A person who plays the role of a grandparent, especially an older relative or carer.

   Grammar: Used when someone acts like a grandparent even if not related by blood.

   Patterns

   • act as a grandparent to someone
   • like a grandparent

   After her parents died, her aunt became a grandparent to her.

   He's like a grandparent to all the children in the neighborhood.

Word forms

Common combinations

maternal grandparent

Her maternal grandparents live in Canada.

paternal grandparent

His paternal grandfather was a soldier.

grandparent and grandchild

The event is for grandparents and grandchildren.

grandparent rights

The law discusses grandparent rights in custody cases.

Synonyms and how they differ

grandmother

Only for a female grandparent; 'grandparent' is gender-neutral.

grandfather

Only for a male grandparent; use 'grandparent' when you mean either sex.

Opposites

Word family

grandparenthood noun

The state or time of being a grandparent.

grandparental adjective

Relating to a grandparent, as in 'grandparental care'.

Commonly confused: grandparent or great-grandparent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “grandparent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words