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

The boy’s uncles—a visual artist and an aspiring intellectual—add his own flair, while Hinterland, his flamboyant great-grandmother, played by the now 92-year-old Liliane Rovère, regales memories of her home in Odessa, Prokofiev and a life less ordinary. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025

Digital evidence may have been tainted after it was removed from the crime scene by prominent Pennsylvania Judge James Schwartzman, the uncle of Greenberg's fiancé. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025

Leo Woodall as Jack Leo Woodall plays Jack, a guest staying with his uncle Quentin at the White Lotus. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 16 Feb. 2025

The teen, an eighth grader at Prairie-Hills Junior High School in Markham, was in Mexico to visit relatives and celebrate his birthday with his father, uncle and brother, according to his mother, Ana Cabral. —Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 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

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