uncle

noun

un·​cle ˈəŋ-kəl 

1

a

: the brother of one's father or mother

b

: the husband of one's aunt or uncle

2

: one who helps, advises, or encourages

3

—used as a cry of surrender

was forced to cry uncle

4

capitalized : uncle sam

Examples of uncle in a Sentence

I have three uncles and two aunts.

My Uncle David is visiting next week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Open it and look through it to bug your sister (my uncle) or mother (me). —Gisele Grayson, NPR, 23 May 2024

In 1994, his uncle was killed by the Taliban, who hanged his body from the barrel of a tank. —Matthieu Aikins Bryan Denton, New York Times, 22 May 2024

Selwyn Jones, the uncle of George Floyd, will appear in Charlotte on Saturday on the fourth anniversary of his nephew’s murder by a police officer in Minneapolis. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2024

The sitcom follows 16-year-old Rafa (played by Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), who is being raised by his single mother and five uncles. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin avunculus mother's brother; akin to Old English ēam uncle, Welsh ewythr, Latin avus grandfather

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing uncle

• and Bob's your uncle
• Dutch uncle
• great-uncle
• say uncle
• uncle-in-law

Kids Definition

uncle

noun

un·​cle ˈəŋ-kəl 

1

: the brother of one's father or mother

2

: the husband of one's aunt or uncle