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Definition of uncle

uncle

/ˈʌŋ.kəl/
un · cle
Plural:uncles
•
Adjective:avuncular
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uncle Lexical Profile

uncle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The brother of one's father or mother.

Example

"We visit my uncle and aunt every summer at their cabin by the lake."

2

The husband of one's aunt.

Example

"Her aunt's husband officially became her uncle after they were married in the spring."

3

An older male friend of one's parents, often used as an affectionate or respectful term of address by children.

Example

"Even though they were not blood relatives, the children always referred to their father's best friend as Uncle John."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for uncle

• Rhymes for uncle

• Nearby Words

unclassifiable
unclassified
unclassy
uncle
unclean
uncleaned
uncleanliness

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'oncle', borrowed from Old French 'oncle', derived from Latin 'avunculus', meaning 'mother's brother'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Uncle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/uncle
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