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nepotism

[ nep-uh-tiz-uhm ]
/ ˈnɛp əˌtɪz əm /
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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.

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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nepotism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nepotism

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 nepotism

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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