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

see also:

say uncle

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

Uncles Winthrop of Arkansas and Nelson of New York were Republican governors. — Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026

Ricardo Cortes, uncle of Serabi Medina, visits a memorial for his niece, the 9-year-old girl who was shot in the head while riding her scooter in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

That includes her uncle, Earnest, one of her biggest supporters. — Pj Green november 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026

The Polish, a garlicky smoked beef and pork link, is generally credited to the stand’s namesake, Macedonian immigrant Jimmy Stefanovic, who took over his aunt and uncle’s stand in 1939. — Amy Cavanaugh, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

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