founding father

IPA/ˌfaʊndɪŋ ˈfɑːðə(r)/
IPA/ˌfaʊndɪŋ ˈfɑːðər/

founding father — noun

1. a person who helped create the United States of America and shape its system of

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person who helped create the United States of America and shape its system of government, especially one who signed the Constitution in 1787

例句

Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Third-graders at Lincoln Elementary dressed up as different founding fathers for the school's annual History Day parade.

plural form: the founding fathers

同義詞
  • Founder

    broader term; not specifically tied to US history

  • Framer

    refers specifically to those who drafted the Constitution

  • Revolutionary leader

    focuses on the independence movement rather than the constitutional work

用法筆記

Often capitalized as Founding Father when referring to the specific historical figures. Typically used in the plural (the Founding Fathers) since the term refers to a collective group rather than a single person.

常見錯誤

❌Steve Jobs was a founding father of the United States.
✅Steve Jobs was a founder of Apple.
💡the US-history meaning of 'founding father' refers only to the late-18th-century figures who created the American nation.

2. a person who plays a key role in starting a new field of thought, a major organi

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person who plays a key role in starting a new field of thought, a major organization, or a movement that shapes society

例句

Gita Raharjo is widely called the founding father of Indonesian batik art.

founding father of + [field or domain]

The conference in Geneva honoured three elderly scientists — the founding fathers of gene therapy — each now in their eighties.

founding fathers of + [scientific field]

同義詞
  • founder

    more common and neutral; used for anyone who starts a company, club, or institution

  • pioneer

    emphasizes being first to explore a new area, often with a sense of adventurousness

  • architect

    metaphorical; stresses deliberate design and structure in building a system or movement

用法筆記

Despite the word 'father,' this term can apply to people of any gender. Almost always followed by 'of' to specify what the person founded.

常見錯誤

❌Marie Curie was the founding mother of radioactivity research.
✅Marie Curie was a founding father of radioactivity research.
💡'founding father' is a set expression and does not change to 'founding mother' when referring to women.