nepo baby

noun

variants or less commonly nepotism baby
plural nepo babies also nepotism babies
: a person who gains success or opportunities through familial connections
especially : a child of a famous parent (such as an actor, musician, entrepreneur, or politician)
… I thought it was a talent competition for aspiring nepo babies whose famous parents refused to book them auditions. Kyndall Cunningham
… [Actor] Ewan McGregor's daughter Clara has admitted that she has had all the privilege a so-called 'nepo baby' can enjoy. Beverley Lyons
… he [Ben Stiller] starred in a … Pepsi commercial that poked fun at his nepo baby status. Jen Shiori Adams
George emanates a grating "good vibes only" philosophy borne from his privileged upbringing; he's a nepotism baby by way of his famous artist father. Variety
Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. … filed paperwork Wednesday to launch a presidential challenge to President Biden, continuing a centuries-long tradition of nepotism baby presidential contenders. Zach Blackburn

Examples of nepo baby 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.
Dakota Johnson, queen of all nepo babies, is incapable of being boring. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 May 2025 In a 2023 interview with SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show, Jason joked that his first-ever acting gig was tied to his father, flaunting his nepo baby status. Angel Saunders, People.com, 7 May 2025 Buffett was something of a 1950s nepo baby, starting his career in 1951 as a salesman for Buffett, Falk, & Co., his father’s investment firm. Luciana Lopez, CNN Money, 4 May 2025 Apparently the part has been retooled since the pilot, and no longer requires a double nepo baby. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 May 2025 The nepo baby whose arrival last summer was ripped across the NBA landscape has quietly risen above the criticism and gradually drowned out the noise. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025 This week, Andrew Zucker reports on the latest luxury for Ivy League nepo babies of the 1-percenters: private, white-glove housing stocked with amenities. Air Mail, 5 Apr. 2025 In the series co-created by Mindy Kaling, Hudson plays a fictional NBA nepo baby that takes over as president of the Los Angeles Waves after one of her brothers gets into an accident while high on drugs. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2025 With a tenant directory resembling the Forbes Four Hundred, the 20-unit building is the go-to off-campus option for nepo babies at the Ivy League college. Andrew Zucker, Air Mail, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1992, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nepo baby was in 1992

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Cite this Entry

“Nepo baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nepo%20baby. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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