god·fa·ther
ˈgäd-ˌfä-t͟hər 
also ˈgȯd-
1
: a man who sponsors a person at baptism
2
: one having a relation to someone or something analogous to that of a male sponsor to his godchild: such as
a
: one that founds, supports, or inspires
made him the godfather of a whole generation of rebels—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
b
: the leader of an organized crime syndicate
godfathered; godfathering; godfathers
: to act as godfather to
Examples of godfather in a Sentence
Noun
Her uncle is her godfather.
Many people regard him as the godfather of rock and roll.
Recent Examples on the Web
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Karren was telling me that he’s been in that exact position, in that exact church, three or four times in his life being made the godfather for a kid.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Oct. 2024
Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2022
Even the beginning is a little iffy: Where does godfather Drosselmeyer come from?
—John Anderson, WSJ, 9 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for godfather 
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Noun
California For Subscribers How L.A.’s progressive ‘godfather’ wound up struggling to keep his job as D.A.
Oct. 24, 2024
Gascón has charged five officers in on-duty shootings since 2020, including one of the deputies who killed Ryan Twyman.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Karren was telling me that he’s been in that exact position, in that exact church, three or four times in his life being made the godfather for a kid.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Murdoch’s political ally, godfather to one of Rupert’s young daughters with Deng – have to do with this?
—Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2022
Even the beginning is a little iffy: Where does godfather Drosselmeyer come from?
—John Anderson, WSJ, 9 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for godfather
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Cite this Entry
“Godfather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/godfather. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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