godfather

UK: /ˈgɒdfɑːðə^r/ US: /ˈgɑdˌfɑðɚ/ ,(god′fä′ᵺər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

god•fa•ther /ˈgɑdˌfɑðɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a man who serves as sponsor for a child, such as at a baptism.
2. the head of a Mafia family;
   don.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

god•fa•ther  (god′fä′ᵺər), n. 

1. a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
2. any male sponsor or guardian.
3. (often cap.) a powerful leader, esp. of the Mafia.
4. a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like:
   the godfather of abstract expressionism.

v.t. 

5. to act as godfather to;
   be sponsor or protector for.

• Middle English godfader, Old English godfæder. See God, father bef. 1000

god′fa′ther•ly, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

godfather / ˈɡɒdˌfɑːðə/ noun

1. a male godparent
2. the head of a Mafia family or other organized criminal ring
3. an originator or leading exponent: the godfather of South African pop

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

God•fa•ther, The  (god′fä′ᵺər), 

1. Literature a novel (1969) by Mario Puzo.