godfather

plural godfathers

1. ChristianityA man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a male godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.

   Synonyms: godpa

2. figurativelySomeone who plays a key role in fostering the development of something.

   […]recalls Henrik Stiesdal, sometimes known as the “godfather” of the wind industry for his influential turbine inventions […].

   2026 January 13, Rachel Millard, Alice Hancock, Nic Fildes, “How the west fell behind in green tech”, in Financial Times, Big Read, page 15

   2 more examples

   The man often touted as the godfather of AI has quit Google, citing concerns over the flood of misinformation, the possibility for AI to upend the job market, and the “existential risk” posed by the creation of a true digital intelligence.

   2023 May 2, Josh Taylor, Alex Hern, “‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton quits Google and warns over dangers of misinformation”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   “They are trying to kill the messenger with the bad news, it’s crazy,” said Dr James Hansen, known as the godfather of climate science and previously director of Giss for more than 30 years.

   2025 May 21, Oliver Milman, “Godfather of climate science decries Trump plan to shut Nasa lab above Seinfeld diner: ‘It’s crazy’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

3. crimeA mafia leader.
4. A small post which is used in repairing a fence. For instance attached to and supporting an existing broken fence post.

present singular third person godfathers · participle present godfathering · participle past godfathered · past godfathered

1. figurativelyoftentransitiveTo act as godfather or guardian to.

   But months before, he'd agreed to godfather the premiere of The Godfather.

   2006, Robert Evans, The Kid Stays in the Picture, page 5

   2 more examples

   Hull objected violently that aid had not been used to extract commitments on postwar economic policy; the joint chiefs had wanted bases; others in the military still wanted Britain to play only a minor, if any, role in the Pacific; and they were all apparently angry at the Treasury for godfathering the Quebec Agreement.

   1996, Ann Lane, The Rise and Fall of the Grand Alliance, 1941–45, page 61

   The grave site, humble as it is, reflects something more than a hometown’s determination to honor a fallen son, something that seems irreducible in the politics of Iraq: the refusal of the Sunni minority, who ruled Iraq for centuries until Mr. Hussein’s overthrow, to reconcile themselves to the assumption of power by the Shiite majority who won elections godfathered by the American occupation authority.

   2007 August 3, John F. Burns, “At Hussein Grave, Legend Lives as Fury Simmers”, in New York Times