nephew

noun

neph·​ew ˈne-(ˌ)fyü 

 chiefly British  -(ˌ)vyü

plural nephews

1

: a son of one's brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

2

obsolete : a lineal (see lineal sense 3) descendant

especially : grandson

Examples of nephew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The domestic calm from the dinner table is gone as Jake tries to figure out how soon his nephew will arrive and the best method for intercepting him before Whitfield does. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 30 Mar. 2025

Deva Cassel portrays Angelica, a young woman who comes from a modest social and economical background, but raised to become a fine, charismatic and powerful young woman, who will eventually marry into the Prince’s nephew, Tancredi, played by Saul Nanni. —Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

Jenna ribs, referencing her niece Cora Georgia, 3, and nephew, Edward, 7 months. —Alex Ross, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

O'Keefe, 46, was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department who was raising his niece and nephew. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nevew, from Anglo-French nevou, neveu, from Latin nepot-, nepos grandson, nephew; akin to Old English nefa grandson, nephew, Sanskrit napāt grandson

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing nephew

• great-nephew

Kids Definition

nephew

noun

neph·​ew ˈnef-yü 

: a son of one's brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law