nephew

[nef-yoo, nev-yoo]

noun

1. a son of one's brother or sister.

2. a son of one's spouse's brother or sister.

3. an illegitimate son of a clergyman who has vowed celibacy (used as a euphemism).

4. Obsolete.,  a direct descendant, especially a grandson.

5. Obsolete.,  a remote male descendant, as a grandnephew or cousin.

nephew

/ ˈnɛf-, ˈnɛvjuː /

noun

1. a son of one's sister or brother

Word History and Origins

Origin of nephew¹

1250–1300; Middle English neveu < Old French < Latin nepōtem, accusative of nepōs nephew, grandson; akin to Old English nefa, Dutch neef, German Neffe, Old Norse nefi; the pseudo-etymological spelling with ph has influenced pronunciation

Word History and Origins

Origin of nephew¹

C13: from Old French neveu, from Latin nepōs; related to Old English nefa, Old High German nevo relative

Example Sentences

On the nights they have live jazz, there are people dancing from all walks of life — older people, even my 4-year-old nephew loves to dance there, and there are dogs.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the other relatives to have their statements read in court was the sole surviving sister of Gail and Heather, Don Patterson's brothers, and his nephew who grew up idolising the former school teacher.

From BBC

She added he was "the best uncle in the world" and loved his nieces and nephews, as well as enjoying bike rides along the Trans Pennine cycle path.

From BBC

The nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of his former attorney general, Bobby, Kennedy spent decades as an attorney battling some of the world’s most notorious corporate polluters.

From Salon

He was placed in hospice in 2022, and put on a feeding tube, but lived three more years against the odds, noted Roberts, one of seven close nieces and nephews who called him “Uncle James.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aunt 
• cousin 
• father 
• folk 
• mother 
• niece 
• sibling 
• uncle