great-niece: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-LowFormal/Informal (family context)
Quick answer
What does “great-niece” mean?
A daughter of one's nephew or niece.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A daughter of one's nephew or niece.
The term is used exclusively to describe a family relationship within a kinship system, specifying a descent from a sibling through two generations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or meaning. Both dialects use the term identically.
Connotations
None beyond the familial context.
Frequency
Equally used in both varieties, though perhaps slightly more common in written or formal family descriptions than in casual speech where "my brother's granddaughter" might be used.
Grammar
How to Use “great-niece” in a Sentence
[Possessive Pronoun] + great-niece[Proper Noun]'s + great-nieceVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except possibly in discussions of family business succession.
Academic
Used in anthropological, genealogical, or sociological texts discussing kinship systems.
Everyday
Common in family conversations, announcements, and genealogy.
Technical
Standard term in legal documents (wills, trusts) and formal genealogy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great-niece”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great-niece”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great-niece”
- Writing it without a hyphen as 'great niece' (less standard).
- Confusing it with 'granddaughter' (which is the child of one's own child).
- Using 'great' as an adjective of quality (e.g., 'She's a great niece').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A niece is the daughter of your sibling. A great-niece is the daughter of your niece or nephew (your sibling's grandchild).
Yes, 'grandniece' is a direct synonym and is equally correct, though 'great-niece' is slightly more common in everyday use.
The standard plural is 'great-nieces.'
The male equivalent is a 'great-nephew.'
A daughter of one's nephew or niece.
Great-niece is usually formal/informal (family context) in register.
Great-niece: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈniːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈnis/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A niece is your sibling's daughter. Add 'great-' to go one generation down, just like 'grand-' in granddaughter.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A TREE (she is a branch two levels below your own).
Practice
Quiz
What is the relationship of a great-niece to you?