aunt

1 of 2

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

auntly

2 of 2

adjective

aunt·​ly

ˈant-lē, 

ˈänt-

sometimes -er/-est

: of, relating to, or suggesting an aunt

telephones her … nearly every day with auntly advice

—Newsweek

Examples of aunt in a Sentence

Noun

He has three aunts and two uncles.

This is my Aunt Mary.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As a high school graduation present, her aunt bought her plane tickets to follow Warped Tour across six different states, so being able to perform feels like a full-circle moment. —Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 4 June 2026

His father, Andy, was also a leading neurosurgeon, and his aunt, Katherine, is an astrophysicist who is an expert in dark matter. —David Hickey, NBC news, 4 June 2026

Court records show McKnight was Moody’s aunt and had custody of the child. —Mary Ramsey updated June 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026

Indigenous Australians use the titles uncle and aunt as marks of respect for community elders. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

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