What does grandson mean?
A grandson is the son of one's child, making him a male descendant one generation removed from the speaker or referent. The term can refer to a grandson of a parent, grandparent, or any earlier family member, although the most usual relationship is the one between a grandparent and a grandchild. In everyday use, “grandson” often carries warm family associations, suggesting affection, family continuity, and personal memories. It can also appear in more formal or historical contexts when discussing inheritance, royal succession, or family lineage. Unlike “descendant,” which can refer to someone many generations removed and to any line of descent, “grandson” identifies a precise kinship and a male family member. Its plural is “grandsons,” and it is used widely in both British and American English.
nounA grandson is a male child of one's child; the son of a daughter or son.
- A male descendant one generation removed from a parent, especially a parent's son.
"Her grandson visits us every Sunday and has become an excellent cook."
"My grandfather celebrated his eightieth birthday with all of his grandchildren."
"The prince's grandson is expected to inherit the estate."
The standard plural is “grandsons,” with the spelling of the singular plus “-s.”
"The two grandsons spent the afternoon playing cricket in the garden."
The word combines a Latin-derived “grand-” with the Old English word for “son,” making a family label with roots in two ancient languages.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of grandson
Grandson is a compound whose two elements have different historical sources. The first element comes through French from Latin grandis, meaning “large” or “great,” while “son” continues Old English sunu, meaning “son” or “child.” The compound is a relatively transparent English kinship term and belongs to a wider family of words including grandfather, grandmother, grandchild, and granddaughter.
How grandson is actually used
The term is fully standard in formal and informal English. It is gender-specific; use “grandchild” when the person's sex is not relevant or is unknown.