great-uncle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal/Neutral. Slightly more formal than 'granduncle'. Used in family contexts, legal documents, and genealogy.
Quick answer
What does “great-uncle” mean?
The brother of one's grandparent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The brother of one's grandparent.
Sometimes used affectionately or formally to refer to an older male relative from a previous generation, or metaphorically to describe a wise, older male mentor or family friend.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Granduncle' (one word, no hyphen) is a less common but acceptable variant in both dialects, with 'great-uncle' being more prevalent.
Connotations
Neutral in both regions. It is a standard, factual kinship term.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English. Slightly less frequent than 'uncle' in general corpora due to its specific reference.
Grammar
How to Use “great-uncle” in a Sentence
[Person] + [be] + great-uncle + to + [Person][Person] + [be] + [Person]'s great-unclegreat-uncle + of + [Person]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, or genealogical texts and discussions.
Everyday
Common in family discussions, storytelling, and when explaining family trees.
Technical
Standard term in legal documents (wills, trusts) and formal genealogy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great-uncle”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great-uncle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great-uncle”
- Confusing it with 'uncle once removed'. An uncle once removed is from a different generation (e.g., your parent's cousin). A great-uncle is from your grandparent's generation.
- Hyphenation: 'Greatuncle' (no hyphen) is less standard. 'Great-uncle' is preferred.
- Spelling: 'Greataunt' and 'great-uncle' should be parallel; 'great-aunt' is also correct.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference in meaning. 'Great-uncle' is the more common and standard form. 'Granduncle' is an accepted but less frequent variant.
No. A great-uncle is your grandparent's brother (same generation as your grandparent). An 'uncle once removed' is either your parent's cousin (one generation above you) or your cousin's child (one generation below you). 'Removed' indicates a difference in generation.
The female equivalent is 'great-aunt' (or less commonly, 'grandaunt'). For example, your grandmother's sister is your great-aunt.
Strictly speaking, it refers to a blood relative. However, in informal contexts, it might be used affectionately for a very close family friend of an older generation, similar to 'Uncle [Name]'.
The brother of one's grandparent.
Great-uncle is usually formal/neutral. slightly more formal than 'granduncle'. used in family contexts, legal documents, and genealogy. in register.
Great-uncle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈʌŋkl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈʌŋkl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Great' as in 'great-grandparent'. A great-uncle is from the same generation as your great-grandparent; he is your grandparent's brother.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY TREE AS A HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE. The 'great-' prefix adds a level to the vertical hierarchy.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following relationships is correctly described as 'great-uncle'?