# forefather

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/ · frequency rank #93,711

## Definitions
1. An ancestor.
2. A cultural ancestor; one who originated an idea or tradition.

## Etymology
From Middle English forefader, forfader, vorvader, from Old English forefæder (“forefather”), but possibly also merged with Old Norse forfaðir. Equivalent to fore- + father. Compare Dutch voorvader (“forefather”), German Vorvater, Vorfahr (“forefather”), Danish forfader (“forefather”), Swedish förfader (“forefather”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/forefather