nepotism

American  

[nep-uh-tiz-uhm] / ˈnɛp əˌtɪz əm /

noun

1. 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.

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nepotism British  

/ nɪˈpɒtɪk, ˈnɛpəˌtɪzəm /

noun

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

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nepotism Cultural  

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• antinepotism noun
• nepotic adjective
• nepotist noun
• nepotistic adjective
• nepotistical adjective

Etymology

Origin of nepotism

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

Compare meaning

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

• nepotism vs. cronyism

Explanation

Nepotism is the practice of favoritism based on kinship, like when the coach chooses his own kid to be the quarterback even if his kid stinks at football. The word nepotism comes from the Italian word for nephew, nepote. Apparently back in the 17th century a lot of people tended to promote their nephews to powerful positions at the expense of other candidates. Nepotism has come to mean favoritism of any family member, so if you’re the daughter of a powerful CEO, don’t worry, you can still be the beneficiary of nepotism. However, people might not like you when you become the Vice President, unless you’ve really earned the title.

Example Sentences

Accused of benefitting from nepotism when his mother was in power, Tarique Rahman has also faced allegations of corruption.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

From flagrant noncompete bids to overextended “emergency” contracts and open markets of fraud and nepotism, the disarray of New York City’s social services harms everyone and benefits few.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Still, Rahman's career has been dogged by allegations of nepotism and mismanagement.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

A 2023 state audit found nepotism in hiring and sloppy accounting of credit card purchases and state fuel.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

Zeitoun was convinced Ahmad was treating him a bit more roughly than the others, to compensate for any suspicions of nepotism, but he didn’t mind.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Related Words

• bias
• discrimination
• inequity
• partisanship