Godfather
noun
A male chosen to guide and be a role model for a child in religious matters.
In Catholic tradition, John is the godfather of his niece, guiding her spiritual development.
Often appears as...
- become a godfather
- godfather at baptism
noun
A man who is influential or pioneering in a movement or organization.
Elvis Presley is often considered the godfather of rock and roll.
Often appears as...
- godfather of a movement
- godfather of an industry
Usage tips
Approving
noun
A man who is a leader or dominant figure in organized crime.
In the movie 'The Godfather', Vito Corleone is a powerful godfather in the Italian-American Mafia.
Often appears as...
- mafia godfather
- mob godfather
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A male chosen to guide and be a role model for a child in religious matters.
In Catholic tradition, John is the godfather of his niece, guiding her spiritual development.
Often appears as...
- become a godfather
- godfather at baptism
noun
A man who is influential or pioneering in a movement or organization.
Elvis Presley is often considered the godfather of rock and roll.
Often appears as...
- godfather of a movement
- godfather of an industry
Usage tips
Approving
noun
A man who is a leader or dominant figure in organized crime.
In the movie 'The Godfather', Vito Corleone is a powerful godfather in the Italian-American Mafia.
Often appears as...
- mafia godfather
- mob godfather
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Tradition
Typically used in Christian ceremonies where godfathers commit to support a child's faith journey.
Michael became the godfather at his nephew's christening ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Support
A godfather is expected to provide moral and ethical guidance throughout the child's life.
As my godfather, uncle Bob is always there to advise me on right and wrong.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
While rooted in religion, godfather now implies any mentor-like figure offering guidance.
Even though he's not officially my godfather, Mr. Jones guides me like one.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Tradition
Typically used in Christian ceremonies where godfathers commit to support a child's faith journey.
Michael became the godfather at his nephew's christening ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Support
A godfather is expected to provide moral and ethical guidance throughout the child's life.
As my godfather, uncle Bob is always there to advise me on right and wrong.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
While rooted in religion, godfather now implies any mentor-like figure offering guidance.
Even though he's not officially my godfather, Mr. Jones guides me like one.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Tradition
Typically used in Christian ceremonies where godfathers commit to support a child's faith journey.
Michael became the godfather at his nephew's christening ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Support
A godfather is expected to provide moral and ethical guidance throughout the child's life.
As my godfather, uncle Bob is always there to advise me on right and wrong.
Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Religion
While rooted in religion, godfather now implies any mentor-like figure offering guidance.
Even though he's not officially my godfather, Mr. Jones guides me like one.
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Video examples
Chimps have feelings and...
and after he got there, James decided he was going to escape. And so one of the first things he did was to get himself baptized, because he wanted to get a set of godparents, because to an 18th-century slave, they knew that one of the major responsibilities of godfathers was to help you escape.
Video examples
Life at 30,000 feet PIPE...
And then six months later, or nine months after the problem had taken, I got this delightful letter with a picture of the baby asking if I'd be godfather, which I became. So, it all worked out well. Really? You should have brought a picture. That's wonderful. I should have.
Video examples
Stanley McChrystal:...
and an old friend of mine, that I had spent many years at various points of my career with -- godfather to one of their kids -- he sent me a note, just in an envelope, that had a quote from Sherman to Grant that said, "I knew if I ever got in a tight spot,
Video examples
The Genovese Family PIPE...
play insane he was crazy ain't gonna answer you you don't understand his doctors say the man in pajamas is mentally ill not a godfather but a man with the mind of a child he had a routine law enforcement members sometimes called it the gigantic chef oh
Video examples
Rodney Mullen: Pop an...
Mental note on that one. And this one here? An ollie. So, as she mentioned, that is overstated for sure, but that's why they called me the godfather of modern street skating. Here's some images of that.
Video examples
Pop an ollie and...
ollie so she mentioned that is overstated for sure but that's why they called me the Godfather of modern Street skating here are some images of that now I was about halfway through my pro career and I
Video examples
John Gotti Sr.'s Rise to...
It's all over the news. It's flashed everywhere that Paul Castellano was hit in front of Sparks Steak House. - Big Paul Castellano, reputed godfather of the Gambino family, was on his way
Video examples
The Border Between Crocs...
the so-called "Top End," to live alongside these deadly beasts? Behind this whole conservation effort is one guy, a Darwin zoologist, the godfather of crocodile conservation.
Video examples
Making a Deal With a...
This is unbelievable. This is probably the largest marijuana field in the world. The godfather explains to me that they've been growing here for 120 years and distributing
Video examples
How tech companies...
and the "Godfather" movies combined. And reading is one thing. Understanding is another story. That would have taken us much, much longer. And this is a real problem,
Video examples
Chimps have feelings and...
and after he got there, James decided he was going to escape. And so one of the first things he did was to get himself baptized, because he wanted to get a set of godparents, because to an 18th-century slave, they knew that one of the major responsibilities of godfathers was to help you escape.
Video examples
Life at 30,000 feet PIPE...
And then six months later, or nine months after the problem had taken, I got this delightful letter with a picture of the baby asking if I'd be godfather, which I became. So, it all worked out well. Really? You should have brought a picture. That's wonderful. I should have.
Video examples
Stanley McChrystal:...
and an old friend of mine, that I had spent many years at various points of my career with -- godfather to one of their kids -- he sent me a note, just in an envelope, that had a quote from Sherman to Grant that said, "I knew if I ever got in a tight spot,
Video examples
The Genovese Family PIPE...
play insane he was crazy ain't gonna answer you you don't understand his doctors say the man in pajamas is mentally ill not a godfather but a man with the mind of a child he had a routine law enforcement members sometimes called it the gigantic chef oh
Video examples
Rodney Mullen: Pop an...
Mental note on that one. And this one here? An ollie. So, as she mentioned, that is overstated for sure, but that's why they called me the godfather of modern street skating. Here's some images of that.
Video examples
Pop an ollie and...
ollie so she mentioned that is overstated for sure but that's why they called me the Godfather of modern Street skating here are some images of that now I was about halfway through my pro career and I
Video examples
John Gotti Sr.'s Rise to...
It's all over the news. It's flashed everywhere that Paul Castellano was hit in front of Sparks Steak House. - Big Paul Castellano, reputed godfather of the Gambino family, was on his way
Video examples
The Border Between Crocs...
the so-called "Top End," to live alongside these deadly beasts? Behind this whole conservation effort is one guy, a Darwin zoologist, the godfather of crocodile conservation.
Video examples
Making a Deal With a...
This is unbelievable. This is probably the largest marijuana field in the world. The godfather explains to me that they've been growing here for 120 years and distributing
Video examples
How tech companies...
and the "Godfather" movies combined. And reading is one thing. Understanding is another story. That would have taken us much, much longer. And this is a real problem,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Bob Odenkirk
American Actor
My godfather was a Chicago policeman, and I've always looked at law enforcement as a challenging and interesting job. There are so many decisions that law enforcement officers have to make, and the incident or situation changes so much from moment to moment and day to day. I have a lot of respect for officers and what they go through.
Quote examples
Steve Erickson
American Novelist
That godfather of the modern action blockbuster, 'The Godfather,' is entirely character driven, propelled by the transformation of a crime lord's youngest son, who breaks bad when he evolves from white-sheep war hero to blood-soaked inheritor of his father's empire.
Quote examples
Matthew Perry
Actor
I grew up babysitting and always enjoyed it. I love family. A couple of my closest friends have kids, and I'm their godfather, and that's one of my greatest pleasures in life, just picking them up from school and hanging out with them.
Quote examples
Catherine Tate
English Actress
My mum left my dad when I was six months old, so I don't know him at all. I had no male figures in my life, really. I had my godfather, but he's more like a grandfather, so I was quite sheltered. I've never tried to find my father.
Quote examples
Remo D'Souza
Indian Dancer
Even after choreographing some big numbers, I didn't qualify as the top choreographer. You need to have godfathers and big people to support you for others to take you seriously.
Quote examples
Nushrat Bharucha
Indian Actress
I have made every other person who has helped me my godfather.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Hinton
British Psychologist
I feel slightly embarrassed by being called 'the godfather.
Quote examples
Jimmy White
English Celebrity
Ronnie Wood's my good mate, I'm godfather to his twins.
Quote examples
Ranjeet
Indian Actor
I did not have a godfather.
Quote examples
Sreenivasan
Indian Actor
I have no godfather.
Quote examples
Bob Odenkirk
American Actor
My godfather was a Chicago policeman, and I've always looked at law enforcement as a challenging and interesting job. There are so many decisions that law enforcement officers have to make, and the incident or situation changes so much from moment to moment and day to day. I have a lot of respect for officers and what they go through.
Quote examples
Steve Erickson
American Novelist
That godfather of the modern action blockbuster, 'The Godfather,' is entirely character driven, propelled by the transformation of a crime lord's youngest son, who breaks bad when he evolves from white-sheep war hero to blood-soaked inheritor of his father's empire.
Quote examples
Matthew Perry
Actor
I grew up babysitting and always enjoyed it. I love family. A couple of my closest friends have kids, and I'm their godfather, and that's one of my greatest pleasures in life, just picking them up from school and hanging out with them.
Quote examples
Catherine Tate
English Actress
My mum left my dad when I was six months old, so I don't know him at all. I had no male figures in my life, really. I had my godfather, but he's more like a grandfather, so I was quite sheltered. I've never tried to find my father.
Quote examples
Remo D'Souza
Indian Dancer
Even after choreographing some big numbers, I didn't qualify as the top choreographer. You need to have godfathers and big people to support you for others to take you seriously.
Quote examples
Nushrat Bharucha
Indian Actress
I have made every other person who has helped me my godfather.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Hinton
British Psychologist
I feel slightly embarrassed by being called 'the godfather.
Quote examples
Jimmy White
English Celebrity
Ronnie Wood's my good mate, I'm godfather to his twins.
Quote examples
Ranjeet
Indian Actor
I did not have a godfather.
Quote examples
Sreenivasan
Indian Actor
I have no godfather.
Example 1 of 10
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