Meaning of nepotism in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈnɛpəˌtɪzəm/

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  1. Noun

    nepotism

    Etymology

    mid 17th century: from French népotisme, from Italian nepotismo, from nipote‘nephew’ (with reference to privileges bestowed on the ‘nephews’ of popes, who were in many cases their illegitimate sons)

    Definitions

    1. favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)

Famous quotes

  • « My dad became a soap opera actor, and I was an extra in a skating rink scene on the soap. I didn't audition. It was nepotism all the way. »
    Jennifer Aniston
  • « Everybody gets everything handed to them. The rich inherit it. I don't mean just inheritance of money. I mean what people take for granted among the middle and upper classes, which is nepotism, the old-boy network. »
    Toni Morrison
  • « For me, growing up, the downside of it was that as a kid you don't want to stand out. You don't want to have a famous father let alone get a job because of your famous father, you know? But I'm a product of nepotism. That's how I got my foot in the door, through my dad. »
    Jeff Bridges
  • « Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises. Our political system promotes nepotism and wasting money. This has undermined our legal system and confidence in the functioning of the state. One of the consequences is that many citizens don't pay their taxes. »
    Georgios A. Papandreou

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