aunt

noun

ˈant  ˈänt 

1

: the sister of one's father or mother

2

: the wife of one's uncle or aunt

aunthood

ˈant-ˌhu̇d 

ˈänt-

noun

auntlike

ˈant-ˌlīk 

ˈänt-

adjective

auntly adjective

Examples of aunt in a Sentence

He has three aunts and two uncles.

This is my Aunt Mary.

Recent Examples on the Web

The others shot to death in the isolated town of Lake Cargelligo in New South Wales state were Quinn's friend, John Harris, 32, and her aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50. —Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026

Over the subsequent stories, Goodman crafts subtle investigations of the relations between siblings, the fine blend of anxiety and pride parents feel for their offspring, and the bemused affection an aunt or uncle might feel for their aimless nieces or haphazard nephews. —Chloe Schama, Vogue, 24 Jan. 2026

The aunt dies, and heartbroken Lord Marlowe decamps for America. —Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

Big Boi couldn’t make the trip because of his aunt Renee’s passing. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French ante, from Latin amita; akin to Old High German amma mother, nurse, Greek amma nurse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aunt

• agony aunt
• aunt-in-law
• great-aunt

Rhymes for aunt

• ant
• cant
• chant
• gant
• lant
• pant
• plant
• quant
• rant
• sant
• scant
• slant

Kids Definition

aunt

noun

ˈant 

ˈȧnt

1

: the sister of one's father or mother

2

: the wife of one's uncle or aunt