grandfather clause grandfather chair • grandfather clock · · · Info · Definitions · Characters · · grandfather clause · · Text Common · · Latin · · Scripts 18 · · Length 5 · · Syllables Definitions · · · (noun) an exemption based on circumstances existing prior to the adoption of some policy; used to enfranchise illiterate whites in south after the American Civil War. Synonyms: grandfather clause. · · Noun Definition 1 Characters · · space U+0020 a latin small letter a U+0061 c latin small letter c U+0063 d latin small letter d U+0064 e latin small letter e U+0065 f latin small letter f U+0066 g latin small letter g U+0067 h latin small letter h U+0068 l latin small letter l U+006C n latin small letter n U+006E r latin small letter r U+0072 s latin small letter s U+0073 t latin small letter t U+0074 u latin small letter u U+0075