nepotism
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nepotism
From the Italian word nepotismo, dating back to 1655–65. See nephew, -ism
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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.
Vocabulary lists containing nepotism
Power Suffix: -ism
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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.
"Anti-corruption and an end to appointments on the basis of political affiliation and nepotism are our key demands. If we have to fight against our own party regarding this, we will do so."
From BBC • Apr. 5, 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
Rosenthal noted that to avoid the appearance of nepotism, he never suggested his wife for the role of Amy.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
