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great-aunt

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

noun

  1. a grandaunt.


great-aunt British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of great-aunt

First recorded in 1650–60

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They were also third-degree relatives, suggesting a connection such as great-aunt and niece or cousins.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

“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 • Dec. 1, 2025

Instead, Ms Wandelt approached relatives and the village priest, passing a letter to Mrs McCann's great-aunt.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

“It’s pretty usual for us in Humboldt County to get earthquakes,” said Chappelle, who is the innkeeper of Hydrangea Inn, which was built by her great-aunt in the 1930s.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

If she was, that made her our great- great-aunt.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck