great-aunt

American  

[greyt-ant, -ahnt] / ˈgreɪtˌænt, -ˌɑnt /

noun

1. a grandaunt.

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great-aunt British  

noun

1. an aunt of one's father or mother; sister of one's grandfather or grandmother

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Etymology

Origin of great-aunt

First recorded in 1650–60

Compare meaning

How does great-aunt compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• great-aunt vs. grandaunt

Example Sentences

It was my late grandmother and my late great-aunt who found the house in Altadena, but no one knows exactly why they settled there.

From Los Angeles Times

But her life took a devastating turn in September after Saabirin's great-aunt agreed that Diiriye's family, who needed a home help, could take her in.

From BBC

“Who thinks this would happen at a baby birthday party,” said a woman who identified herself as a great-aunt of the birthday girl.

From Los Angeles Times

The condition runs through the female line - Lucy's mum has IP although isn't blind, her Grandma did too and her great-aunt was blind in one eye.

From BBC

Almost everyone was safe and accounted for, he was told, except for a distant great-aunt who died in Mandalay – and his Oo Oo.

From BBC