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 uncle

4

capitalized : 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

My aunt’s husband, my uncle, was old, almost eighty-seven, and was beginning to forget things too. —Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

Eventually, the bride discovered that her father, along with a few of her uncles, left the wedding to watch a football game at a nearby sports bar. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025

After Beine's death, the family initially directed any donations to support her uncle's wife and two young children. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025

Their uncle, the Reverend Henry Grattan Guinness (Michael Colgan), would like a word with them. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 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
• 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