great-aunt

noun

ˈgrāt-ˈant How to pronounce great-aunt (audio)
-ˈänt

Examples of great-aunt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The central part of the tiara is said to have been given to Lady Cynthia Hamilton (Diana’s grandmother) in 1919 by her husband’s great-aunt, Lady Sarah Isabella Spencer. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026 Schlossberg is President John F. Kennedy's granddaughter, while Shriver's mother is Eunice Kennedy Shriver – the sister of the former president, aunt of Caroline Kennedy, 68, and great-aunt of Schlossberg. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025 Wallpaper, everywhere Wallpaper, once nothing more than an outdated choice in your great-aunt’s living room, has come back with a vengeance. Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2025 In a touch of magical realism, Dolores hears a chorus of voices made up of her deceased female relatives, including her two mothers, aunts, great-aunts and grandmothers, commenting on her decisions. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for great-aunt

Word History

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great-aunt was in 1525

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Great-aunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great-aunt. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

great-aunt

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on great-aunt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!