- a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
- any male sponsor or guardian.
- a powerful leader, especially of the Mafia.
- a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like: the godfather of abstract expressionism.
- to act as godfather to; be sponsor or protector for.
- a male godparent
- the head of a Mafia family or other organized criminal ring
- an originator or leading exponent
