grandparent
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡrˈændpeərənt/
US
- /ˈɡrændˌpɛrənt/
Description
- Parent of a parent
- Family elder
- Mother's or father's parent
Imagine the warm smell of cookies baking, stories from long ago, and hands that have seen a lot of life. That is often what comes to mind with this family role. A grandparent is the parent of your mother or father. This person belongs to the generation before your parents and is often linked with love, care, family history, and a close bond with children. You might have one, be one, or speak about one with affection. It is a role full of memory, kindness, and often a little spoiling.
The word "grandparent" refers to the parent of your mother or father, the generation just before your parents in the family tree. It is a clear family term, but it also carries a strong sense of love, care, tradition, and experience.
The term includes both maternal grandparents, from your mother's side, and paternal grandparents, from your father's side. You might hear phrases like "visiting the grandparents," which means spending time with them, or "a grandparent raising a child," which shows the important part they can play in family life. In some families and cultures, they help care for children every day and give support and guidance.
The word often brings to mind family history and a connection to the past. Grandparents may share stories about their own childhoods, pass down traditions, and teach simple life lessons. They can be a source of steady love, fun, and comfort during hard times. Although the term usually refers to biological relatives, people also sometimes use it in a warm, informal way for someone who fills that role through care and support.
So, whether you are talking about your own family or the idea of family across generations, "grandparent" names both a place in the family tree and a bond built on love, memory, and care.
Examples
- 1
Family relationship
One of my grandparents still sends me a birthday card every year.
- 2
Life event
She became a grandparent at the age of fifty-two.
- 3
Childcare
Many grandparents help take care of their grandchildren after school.
- 4
Family upbringing
He was raised by his grandparents after his parents moved abroad.
- 5
School event
The school invited parents and grandparents to the spring concert.
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- grandparentnounverb
Forms
- grandparentspluralnounverb
- grandparenting-ing formverbnoun
- grandparentedpast tenseverbnoun