granddaughter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; appropriate for all registers, from formal to informal.
Quick answer
What does “granddaughter” mean?
The daughter of one's son or daughter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The daughter of one's son or daughter.
A female descendant in the second generation; can sometimes be used affectionately for a significantly younger female protégé or mentee, though this is not the primary meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent. The potentially related term 'grandchild' may be used slightly more frequently in American English to avoid specifying gender.
Connotations
Universally positive connotations of family, lineage, affection, and often youth. No negative connotations inherently attached.
Frequency
Equally common and high-frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “granddaughter” in a Sentence
[possessive determiner] + granddaughtergranddaughter + of + [possessive noun phrase] (e.g., granddaughter of the king)granddaughter + to + [person] (formal, e.g., granddaughter to the mayor)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “granddaughter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form)
American English
- (No standard verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective form. Attributive use exists: 'a granddaughter moment').
American English
- (No standard adjective form. Attributive use exists: 'a granddaughter day').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of family businesses, inheritance, or biographical details.
Academic
Used in anthropology, sociology, genetics, and historical/biographical studies when discussing kinship structures.
Everyday
Extremely common in personal and familial contexts.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (wills, trusts), genealogy, and genetic research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “granddaughter”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “granddaughter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “granddaughter”
- Misspelling as 'grandaughter' (missing the 'd').
- Incorrect plural: 'granddaughters' (correct), not 'granddaughter's' (possessive).
- Confusing with 'great-granddaughter' (the next generation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The male equivalent is 'grandson'.
G-R-A-N-D-D-A-U-G-H-T-E-R. A common mistake is to omit the second 'd' (writing 'grandaughter').
A 'great-granddaughter' is the daughter of one's grandchild; she is three generations younger than you.
No, the spelling 'granddaughter' is standard in both British and American English.
The daughter of one's son or daughter.
Granddaughter is usually neutral; appropriate for all registers, from formal to informal. in register.
Granddaughter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡræn.dɔː.tə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡræn.dɑː.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He would move mountains for his granddaughter. (Hyperbolic expression of devotion)”
- “She's the spitting image of her grandmother at that age. (Commonly said of granddaughters)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word in two clear parts: 'GRAND' (meaning impressive or large, but here indicating a generation's gap) + 'DAUGHTER' (your child's daughter).
Conceptual Metaphor
LINEAGE IS A CHAIN (a link in the family chain); THE FUTURE IS A YOUNG PERSON (granddaughter as a symbol of continuity and future).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form of 'granddaughter'?