grandfather

The father of your mother or father.

• My grandfather lives nearby.
• Her grandfathers were both farmers.
• Did your grandfather teach you to fish?

Similar words: granddad, grandpa

Common phrases: my grandfather, maternal grandfather, paternal grandfather

An older saved copy of a computer file, one version before the previous copy.

• Keep the grandfather file in storage.
• We restored the data from the grandfather backup.
• The archive holds both father and grandfather copies.

Common phrases: grandfather file, grandfather backup, grandfather copy

To let an existing person or arrangement continue under old rules after new rules start.

• The company will grandfather existing customers.
• Current members were grandfathered in when fees increased.
• Will our old permits be grandfathered under the new rules?

How to use it: grandfather someone/something in (The company will grandfather existing customers in.); be grandfathered into something (Older plans were grandfathered into the new system.)

Similar words: exempt

Common phrases: grandfather someone in, grandfather existing customers