uncle

noun

un·​cle ˈəŋ-kəl 

1

a

: the brother of one's father or mother

b

: the husband of one's aunt or uncle

2

: one who helps, advises, or encourages

3

—used as a cry of surrender

was forced to cry/say uncle [=was forced to surrender]

4

Uncle : uncle sam

Examples of uncle in a Sentence

I have three uncles and two aunts.

My Uncle David is visiting next week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Charles Heidsieck’s grand uncle founded the house of Heidsieck et Cie in 1785, 37 years before his birth, but at the age of 29, Charles chose to start his own company, and Champagne Charles Heidsieck was born. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2025

His dad and uncle built the store at 4600 Lipan in 1951. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 25 Dec. 2025

An uncle to the children told WKYT that Monst and Morgan Johnson were the parents of the children involved in the incident, while Florence Johnson is their grandmother. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025

Growing up in Richmond, California, Coogler would walk to his uncle’s house to hear the older man talk about baseball and growing up in Mississippi while blues records played in the background, which became the foundation of a lifelong intimacy. —Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin avunculus mother's brother; akin to Old English ēam uncle, Welsh ewythr, Latin avus grandfather

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing uncle

• and Bob's your uncle
• cry/say uncle
• Dutch uncle
• great-uncle
• say uncle
• uncle-in-law

Rhymes for uncle

• carbuncle
• peduncle
• siphuncle

Kids Definition

uncle

noun

un·​cle ˈəŋ-kəl 

1

: the brother of one's father or mother

2

: the husband of one's aunt or uncle