nepotism

[ nep-uh-tiz-uh m ]

/ ˈnɛp əˌtɪz əm /

noun

patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics: She was accused of nepotism when she made her nephew an officer of the firm.

QUIZZES

Can You Remember Your Favorite Words Of The Day From March?

Even if you’re a habitué of Word of the Day, you haven’t seen our March words in these ways! Challenge yourself to our comprehensive quiz!

Question 1 of 15

What does "habitué" mean?

a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste.

a frequent or habitual visitor to a place.

a lazy person who stays in bed long after the usual time for arising.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of nepotism

From the Italian word nepotismo, dating back to 1655–65. See nephew, -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM nepotism

ne·pot·ic

[nuh-pot-ik] /nəˈpɒt ɪk/, nep·o·tis·tic, nep·o·tis·ti·cal, adjectivenep·o·tist, nounan·ti·nep·o·tism, noun

Words nearby nepotism

nephtali, nepionic, nepit, nepman, nepos, nepotism, neptune, neptunian, neptunium, neptunium series, ner tamid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for nepotic

We may infer that this was a position by no means distasteful to that prudent minister's provident and nepotic spirit.
Shakespeare's Lost Years in London, 1586-1592|Arthur Acheson
That is to say, his tendencies were ingrained, perhaps hereditary, even in cases where his selection was nepotic or accidental.
The Army Mule and Other War Sketches|Henry A. Castle

British Dictionary definitions for nepotic

nepotism

/ (ˈnɛpəˌtɪzəm) /

noun

favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence

Derived forms of nepotism

nepotic (nɪˈpɒtɪk) or nepotistic, adjectivenepotist, noun

Word Origin for nepotism

C17: from Italian nepotismo, from nepote nephew, from the former papal practice of granting special favours to nephews or other relatives

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

Cultural definitions for nepotic

nepotism

[ (nep-uh-tiz-uhm) ]

Favoritism granted to relatives or close friends, without regard to their merit. Nepotism usually takes the form of employing relatives or appointing them to high office.