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/say uncle [=was forced to surrender]

4

Uncle : 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

Investigators believe Moore first killed his father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore; his brother, 33-year-old Quinton Moore; and his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines, at the family's mobile home in western Clay County. —Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2026

Daricka first allegedly shot and killed his own dad, 67-year-old Glenn Moore, as well as his brother Quintin Moore, 33, and uncle Willie Ed Guines, 55, at the home on David Hill Road, the outlets reported, citing investigators. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

His uncle, who was a visiting professor at the University of Hawaii, told him to visit for a semester. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 9 Jan. 2026

And, Murray is a kind of a surrogate, fun uncle-type of character. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Jan. 2026

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
• cry/say uncle
• Dutch uncle
• great-uncle
• say uncle
• uncle-in-law

Rhymes for uncle

• carbuncle
• peduncle
• siphuncle

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