grandkid

IPA/ˈɡrænkɪd/
KK[ɡrˈændkˌɪd]IPA/ˈɡrænkɪd/

grandkid — noun

  • grandkidsingular
  • grandkidsplural

1. the child of your son or daughter.

1.nounA2
Definition

the child of your son or daughter.

Example

Talia mailed each grandkid a postcard from her train trip across Taiwan.

each grandkid: talking about several grandchildren one by one

At the reunion, Noor let her youngest grandkid stir the soup.

someone's youngest grandkid

Common collocations
  • first grandkid
  • youngest grandkid
  • new grandkid
  • spoil your grandkid
Synonyms
  • grandchild

    neutral and slightly more formal than grandkid

  • grandson

    more specific; only for a male grandchild

  • granddaughter

    more specific; only for a female grandchild

Grammar Patterns

someone's grandkid

each grandkid

a new grandkid

Usage Note

Informal and warmer than grandchild; common in everyday family conversation. Distinguish from grandson and granddaughter, which specify gender.

Common Mistakes

My niece is my grandkid.
My granddaughter is my grandkid.
a grandkid must be the child of your own son or daughter, not your sibling's child.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Grandkid, grandchild, grandson, and granddaughter all refer to the next generation below your children, but they differ in tone and specificity. Grandkid is the warm, everyday family word, and grandparents often use it when talking about school, visits, gifts, or daily routines. Grandchild is the neutral dictionary term and sounds better in formal writing or careful explanation. Grandson and granddaughter are narrower because they tell you the child's gender. If that detail matters, speakers usually choose one of those words instead of grandkid. Compare: 'Our grandkid starts kindergarten next week' sounds conversational, while 'The charity supports grandparents raising a grandchild' suits a formal sentence better.

grandkid ↗grandchild ↗grandson ↗granddaughter ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • first grandkid
  • youngest grandkid
  • new grandkid

Phrases

  • meet the new grandkid
  • spoil your grandkid
  • be proud of your grandkid

Etymology

English

Grandkid is a modern English compound built from grand-, the family-relationship element seen in grandparent and grandchild, plus kid, an everyday word for child. It developed as a warmer, more conversational alternative to grandchild in informal family talk.

First known use

1895

1895, in the meaning defined above