godfather

[ god-fah-th er ]
/ ˈgɒdˌfɑ ðər /

noun

a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
any male sponsor or guardian.
(often initial capital letter) a powerful leader, especially of the Mafia.
a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like: the godfather of abstract expressionism.

verb (used with object)

to act as godfather to; be sponsor or protector for.

Origin of godfather

before 1000; Middle English godfader, Old English godfæder. See God, father

OTHER WORDS FROM godfather

god·fa·ther·ly, adjective

Definition for godfather (2 of 2)

Godfather, The
[ god-fah-th er ]
/ ˈgɒdˌfɑ ðər /

noun

a novel (1969) by Mario Puzo.

Example sentences from the Web for godfather

British Dictionary definitions for godfather

godfather
/ (ˈɡɒdˌfɑːðə) /

noun

a male godparent
the head of a Mafia family or other organized criminal ring
an originator or leading exponent the godfather of South African pop