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

Millions of children in the US are not being raised by their parents, but by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and other relatives. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 26 May 2026

Floyd's uncle, Selwyn Jones, got the news the morning after May 25, 2020. —Esme Murphy, CBS News, 25 May 2026

As the story goes, in late May, 1776, a committee of the Continental Congress composed of George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, her late husband’s uncle, came to Betsy and asked her to make a flag following a sketch that Washington had drawn. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026

Nobi Kuga, who used to work for the Yomiuri Giants as their North American liaison and coordinator, is a close friend of Sugano’s uncle and Sugano’s parents. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 23 May 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