nepotism

noun

nep·o·tism ˈne-pə-ˌti-zəm

Synonyms of nepotism next

: favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship

accused the company of fostering nepotism in promotions

nepotistic

ˌne-pə-ˈti-stik

adjective

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Nepotism Has Papal Origins

We happen to have neither Merriams nor Websters on our staff at Merriam-Webster, and familial connections to the company’s founders do not provide an advantage to job applicants. If it were otherwise, we might be accused of nepotism—that is, favoritism based on kinship, especially in professional contexts. English speakers have kept nepotism in the family since the late 1600s, having adopted it from the French, who were inspired by Gregorio Leti's 1667 book Il nipotismo di Roma (English title: The History of the Popes' Nephews). The book explores a practice introduced by Pope Sixtus IV: during his papacy in the late 15th century he granted many special favors to members of his family, in particular to his nephews. This practice of papal favoritism was carried on by his near successors. Today, nepotism is mostly associated with business and politics. In recent informal English use, the shortened form nepo has been hitched to the denigrating term baby to refer especially to celebrities who had a parent (or two) who were also in the entertainment industry.

Examples of nepotism in a Sentence

Nepotism has hurt the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

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The father-son duo have received flak ever since Bronny was selected 55th overall by his father's team in the summer, with lots of criticism about nepotism. —

Ryan Morik, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025 Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer being considered for an NFL head coaching job is a reason why so many Black coaches never really get a chance, as this type of nepotism remains a constant point of concern in the coaching community. —

Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025 Saturday Night, one of the livelier films from 2024, offers a glimpse at TV hubris and yet the secrets of show business (nepotism, cronyism) remain hidden. —

Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025 Having opened a whopping 49 Eras shows for Taylor Swift, and appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, Gracie, 25, is proving her stardom isn't reliant on nepotism. —

Rachel Flynn, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nepotism