Plural of 'godfather,' meaning male godparents or sponsors of children in religious ceremonies; informally, men of authority or influence.
From 'godfather' (god + father) with the regular plural suffix -s. Originally denoted male godparents in Christian baptism rites; the meaning expanded to include any male mentor or spiritual guardian.
The Godfather trilogy permanently altered the cultural meaning of 'godfather'—before Francis Ford Coppola, it meant a religious sponsor; now many people think of the mafia first, a remarkable example of how media shapes vocabulary.
Colloquially dominates as the default term for godparents regardless of gender; 'godmothers' is less frequently used, erasing women's equivalence in the role.
Use 'godparents' to include all genders. If specifying gender, use both 'godfathers and godmothers' or use individual terms only when necessary.
["godparents","godparent"]
Godmothers held equal ritual authority and social significance; parity in language honors their contributions.
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