nepotism

[ nep-uh-tiz-uhm ]

noun

1. 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.

nepotism

/ nɪˈpɒtɪk; ˈnɛpəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence

nepotism

1. 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈnepotist, noun
• nepotic, adjective

Other Words From

• ne·pot·ic [n, uh, -, pot, -ik], nepo·tistic nepo·tisti·cal adjective
• nepo·tist noun
• anti·nepo·tism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nepotism¹

From the Italian word nepotismo, dating back to 1655–65. See nephew, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of nepotism¹

C17: from Italian nepotismo, from nepote nephew , from the former papal practice of granting special favours to nephews or other relatives

Example Sentences

Legacy hires and unabashed nepotism are prevalent in baseball — in all professional sports, really, — but the Minasian connection has humble origins.

From Los Angeles Times

"If you were to find the publications of that time, the criticism was personal - JRD got clubbed with nepotism and I was branded as the wrong choice," Ratan Tata later said.

From BBC

Garriott’s spouse, Kathy Moonitz, 55, a Boeing quality inspector since 2021, also has sued her employer, alleging in a separate whistleblower lawsuit that she was collateral damage to her husband’s efforts to stem “pay to play” nepotism at the company.

From Los Angeles Times

With no experience in politics or diplomacy, his appointment was met by furious accusations of nepotism.

From BBC

Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has been criticised and heavily trolled over nepotism because her father Suyash "Chunky" Panday was a successful actor in the late 1980s.

From BBC

Related Words

• bias
• discrimination
• inequity
• partisanship