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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

Words nearby nepotism

nepionic, nepit, ne plus ultra, nepman, Nepos, nepotism, neptune, Neptunian, neptunium, neptunium series, neral

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use nepotism in a sentence

He recently came under fire, accused of nepotism for awarding PPE contracts to a fashion company that pays his son to show its clothes on his Instagram channel.
Angela Merkel's CDU Party Is Choosing a New Leader. Whoever Wins Might Become Germany's Next Chancellor|Madeline Roache|January 14, 2021|Time
The big twist is that by requesting those documents, Hall did in fact uncover a nepotism problem plaguing UT admissions.
The University of Texas’s Machiavellian War on Its Regent|David Davis|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Corruption and nepotism are rampant in the Afghan Army and “it would collapse without U.S. financial support,” the major says.
Afghan Diplomat: The Security Agreement Will Be Signed|Jacob Siegel, Sami Yousafzai|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a brand new work by Lucy Hogg (yes, my wife – nepotism 'r us), from a series documenting how people use art museums.
Museums Cure ADD|Blake Gopnik|September 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST

A Haaretz editorial was more explicit, dubbing the election of Yosef and Lau “a victory for nepotism.”
What to Make of the Chief Rabbi Results|Zack Parker|July 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is not the first time Sirleaf has been charged with nepotism.
Liberia: More Political Woes for Nobel Peace Prize-Winner Sirleaf|Clair MacDougall|July 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But Dredge was only thirty-four, and some people seemed to feel that there was a kind of deflected nepotism in Lanfear's choice.
Tales Of Men And Ghosts|Edith Wharton
He exposed the nepotism of bishops, the worldliness of clergymen, and the indifference of Church-people to religion in general.
Recollections of a Long Life|John Stoughton
Home is the nest of nefarious nepotism, and between that and disparaging prejudice, countless youths go to the devil.
Discourses of Keidansky|Bernard G. Richards
In the Sacred College as elsewhere nepotism and an exaggerated estimate of temporal interests were rife.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3|Various
The influence of nepotism on sub-infeudation, in the case of ecclesiastical fiefs, is too important to be passed over.
Feudal England -- Historical Studies On The Eleventh And Twelfth Centuries|J.H. Round

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.