Meaning & use
nepotism
Last updated
The practice of using one's power or influence to give jobs or advantages to relatives or friends rather than on merit.
See it in a sentence
Critics accused the mayor of nepotism after he appointed his nephew to a top city post.
The company introduced a strict anti-nepotism policy to keep hiring fair.
A note on using this word
The word comes from the Italian "nepote" (nephew), originally describing popes who favored their relatives with high church positions.
Words with a similar meaning
favoritismcronyism
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
meritocracy
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