nephew

noun

neph·​ew ˈne-(ˌ)fyü 

chiefly British -(ˌ)vyü

plural nephews

1

: a son of one's brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

2

obsolete : a lineal (see lineal sense 3) descendant

especially : grandson

Examples of nephew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Starring Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the film follows Jackson's journey from his childhood as the breakout star of the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global phenomenon. —Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026

Charles and Camilla left his nephew’s big day early to attend Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse, a move that has drawn widespread criticism for seemingly prioritizing royal duties and personal interests over a major family event. —Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 9 June 2026

Certainly, when Richmond later summed up life’s points and pleasures in a memo to his nephew, there was not a single piety among them. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

In the ’80s, a young Parrish, a native of Chicago’s South Side, the son of record-loving parents and the nephew of a jazz musician, was immersed in sound. —Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nevew, from Anglo-French nevou, neveu, from Latin nepot-, nepos grandson, nephew; akin to Old English nefa grandson, nephew, Sanskrit napāt grandson

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing nephew

• great-nephew

Kids Definition

nephew

noun

neph·​ew ˈnef-yü 

: a son of one's brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law