forefather
/ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/noun
A relative from generations long past; an ancestor.
Example sentences
- “His forefathers settled in this valley two hundred years ago.”
- “Our forefathers built this church with stone carried from the river.”
Formal and ceremonial; ordinary conversation says 'ancestors'. Usually plural, and gender-neutral alternatives like 'forebears' are now often preferred.