Phrase guide

grandfather clause

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A clause or section, especially in a law, granting exceptions for people or organisations who were affected by previous conditions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Many building codes include a grandfather clause exempting older buildings until some amount of remodeling occurs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an exemption based on circumstances existing prior to the adoption of some policy; used to enfranchise illiterate whites in south after the American Civil War

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: exemption, freedom

History

Etymology

From late 19th-century legislation and constitutional amendments passed by a number of U.S. Southern states, which created new literacy and property restrictions on voting, but exempted those whose grandfathers had the right to vote before the American Civil War. The intent and effect of such rules was to prevent poor and illiterate African American former slaves and their descendants from voting, but without denying poor and illiterate whites the right to vote.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: ava klaŭzo — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • Finnish: siirtymälauseke — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • Finnish: saavutettujen etuuksien säilyttämislauseke — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • French: clause du grand-père — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • French: clause grand-père — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • German: Bestandsschutz — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • German: Bestandsschutzregelung — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • German: Besitzstandsregelung — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • Hungarian: szerzett jog miatti felmentési záradék — exeption for those joined under the previous law
  • Swedish: övergångsbestämmelse — exeption for those joined under the previous law