great-grandparent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (B1-B2)Neutral to formal; common in genealogical, historical, and everyday family contexts.
Quick answer
What does “great-grandparent” mean?
A parent of one's grandparent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A parent of one's grandparent.
An ancestor two generations removed, specifically the father or mother of one's own grandparent. Used in genealogical contexts and family history discussions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the hyphenated form.
Connotations
Neutral, factual descriptor of familial relationship.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties when discussing family trees.
Grammar
How to Use “great-grandparent” in a Sentence
[possessive pronoun] + great-grandparent[number/ordinal] + great-grandparentgreat-grandparent + [of + person]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great-grandparent” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He lived in his great-grandparent home in Cornwall.
American English
- She inherited a great-grandparent clock from the 1800s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or genetic studies discussing lineage.
Everyday
Common when discussing family history, age, or personal anecdotes.
Technical
Standard term in genealogy and legal documents concerning inheritance.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great-grandparent”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great-grandparent”
- Omitting the hyphen (incorrect: 'great grandparent'). Confusing with 'grandparent' (one generation difference).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The plural is 'great-grandparents'.
Yes, in common usage it refers to the legal or social parent of a grandparent, not strictly biological.
A grandparent is the parent of one's own parent. A great-grandparent is the parent of one's grandparent, i.e., one generation further back.
Not commonly. In casual speech, people might say 'my great-grandma/grandpa' using the gendered forms, but 'great-grandparent' remains the standard neutral term.
A parent of one's grandparent.
Great-grandparent: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪtˈɡrænpeərənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪtˈɡrænperənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the family 'tree' - a GRANDparent is a major branch. A GREAT-grandparent is an even GREATER branch further back.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A TREE (roots, branches); TIME IS DISTANCE (further back in time = further up the tree).
Practice
Quiz
How many generations back is a great-grandparent?