Uncle

/ˈʌŋ.kəl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The brother of one's father or mother.

My uncle took me fishing when I was a child.

The husband of one's aunt.

She introduced her uncle, who is married to her mother's sister.

A term used informally to refer to an older man who is a friend of the family.

We often invited Uncle Joe to family gatherings, even though he wasn't related by blood.

Middle English, from Old French 'uncle', from Latin 'avunculus' meaning 'maternal uncle'.

Uncle Sam

A personification of the United States government.

Uncle Tom

A submissive or servile person, especially in the context of race relations.

Cool Uncle

A fun and laid-back relative who often engages in activities with youth.

aunt

The sister of one's father or mother.

nephew

The son of one's brother or sister.

niece

The daughter of one's brother or sister.

Used to refer to a trusted older man.

He's like an uncle to me, giving me advice when I need it.

A person who is overly generous.

He's the uncle who spoils all the kids on Christmas.