avuncular
Americanadjective
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of or relating to an uncle.
He spoke of his sister's son with avuncular pride.
-
acting like an uncle, as in being kind, patient, generous, etc., especially to younger people.
the avuncular, slightly condescending boss of a toy company.
adjective
-
of or concerned with an uncle
-
resembling an uncle; friendly; helpful
Other Word Forms
- avuncularity noun
- avuncularly adverb
Etymology
Origin of avuncular
First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin avuncul(us) “a mother's brother,” equivalent to av(us) “a forefather” + unattested -ont- + unattested -l(os) diminutive suffix ( uncle ) + -ar 1
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.
And Mr. McKellen is mildly avuncular, radiating a stealthy, benevolent attitude.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
That is why producers like Moritz work to land them far in advance and why Gelfond has transformed from an avuncular dealmaker into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after arbiters of power.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
Her Bertha is the kindly, nurturing counterweight to Seth’s badgering boisterousness, a quality Morris infuses with just enough avuncular affection.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025
With his political lineage and avuncular, scholarly image, Mr Lee is generally well-liked by Singaporeans.
From BBC • May 14, 2024
But my father knew—and I knew—that there was more than just avuncular love at stake for him in these visits.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
