Definition

Noun: - A person who sponsors someone (the godchild) at baptism: A godparent is an individual who, during a Christian baptism ceremony, promises to help guide the child's spiritual development and often takes on a supportive role in the child's life.

Usage

• The term "godparent" refers specifically to the role in a religious rite of passage.
• It is used to describe the relationship between the sponsor and the child (the godchild).
• It can be used in both formal contexts (e.g., church documents) and informal contexts (e.g., family discussions).

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Standing as a godparent": The act of formally accepting the role.
  • He was honored to be standing as a godparent for his nephew.
• "Godparental duties": Responsibilities associated with the role.
  • Her godparental duties include remembering birthdays and offering guidance.

Variants and Related Words

• Godfather (n): A male godparent.
  • His godfather gave him a Bible for his confirmation.
• Godmother (n): A female godparent.
  • The fairy godmother is a famous character in the story of Cinderella.
• Godchild (n): The child for whom a person is a godparent.
  • She sends a card to her godchild every Christmas.
• Godparenting (n): The act or role of being a godparent.
  • Godparenting is a serious commitment.

Synonyms

• Sponsor: A person who presents and supports a candidate for baptism.
• Patron: In a broader, non-religious sense, a person who gives support (less common for this specific role).

Related Phrases

• "To be a godparent to someone": To act as a godparent for a specific person.
  • He is proud to be a godparent to his best friend's son.

Noun

1. a person who sponsors someone (the godchild) at baptism