aunt

/ænt/

/ɑnt/

Other forms: aunts

If you have an aunt, she would be your dad's sister or your mom's sister, or the woman who's married to your parent's sibling. Your uncle is a brother to your mom or dad. Maybe your favorite aunt, Beatrice, sends you a birthday card stuffed with money each year.

First used around the 13th century, the noun aunt comes from the Latin word amita, meaning "paternal aunt." The woman who's your aunt is usually older than you are and is also the mother of your cousins. So you may remember your uncle bringing his wife Genevieve — who is also your aunt — and their children Margot and Charlie — your cousins — over for Thanksgiving dinner.

Definitions of aunt

1. noun

   the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your mom's or dad's sibling
   synonyms: auntie, aunty

   antonyms:

   uncle

   the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

   types:

   grandaunt, great-aunt

   an aunt of your father or mother

   maiden aunt

   an unmarried aunt

   type of:

   kinswoman

   a female relative