What does godchildren mean?
Godchildren is the irregular plural of godchild and denotes children for whom a person serves as a godparent. A godparent is someone who undertakes a religious or familial sponsorship of a child, traditionally connected with baptism and often with the promise of guidance, support, and care. The plural may be used collectively, as when someone speaks of “my godchildren,” to mean all the children for whom that person is a godparent. It can also refer to several children who happen to share a godparent. Godchildren is standard in British and American English and is neutral in tone, appearing in family conversation, religious writing, biographies, and announcements. The word is especially notable for its irregular plural form: “godchild” becomes “godchildren,” not “godchilds,” paralleling the older plural pattern seen in words such as “children.” Although the relationship is created through sponsorship rather than biological descent, it can be regarded as a form of extended family.
noun (plural only)Children for whom one or more people serve as godparents. The term may refer collectively to a godparent's godchildren or specifically to several children sharing that relationship.
- Children for whom one or more people serve as godparents.
"Their godchildren gave them a beautifully engraved picture frame for Christmas."
"The godparents gathered their godchildren for the annual Christmas party."
"She has remained close to her godchildren long after they grew up."
The standard plural of godchild. The alternative form “godchilds” is not standard.
"Her godchildren sent flowers for her birthday."
Like “children” and “brethren,” “godchildren” refuses a predictable plural—and names a kinship made through sponsorship rather than birth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of godchildren
The word is an English compound formed from Old English gōd, meaning “God” or “deity,” and ċild, meaning “child.” In Middle English, godchild referred to a child for whom a person had assumed a sponsorship resembling that of a godparent. Its modern plural godchildren developed through the irregular -ren plural pattern also familiar from children, rather than by adding the regular suffix -s.
Related word forms
How godchildren is actually used
Neutral in register and standard in both British and American English. The plural can be collective, referring to all of a godparent's godchildren, rather than only to a group of children who have the same godparent.
Easily confused with godchildren
A godchild is one child for whom a person is a godparent, whereas godchildren is the plural form used for more than one.