What does "aunt" mean?
The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
Aunt
/ɑːnt/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
- Grammar: aunt is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: auntie, aunty, ant, aunt by marriage.
- Useful contrasts: nephew, niece, tito.
- Usage evidence: Linda was wildly excited to learn that her aunt Nancy was coming to visit her.
How to use "aunt"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "aunt" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "aunt" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "aunt" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "aunt" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "aunt" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "auntie" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "aunt", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
"As a rule, you see, I'm not lugged into Family Rows. On the occasions when Aunt is calling to Aunt like mastodons bellowing across primeval swamps and Uncle James's letter about Cousin Mabel's peculiar behaviour is being shot round the family circle... the clan has a tendency to ignore me."
- 2 the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle wordnet
- 3 The female cousin or cousin-in-law of one’s parent.
- 4 A woman of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin. endearing
- 5 Any elderly woman. obsolete
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A procuress or bawd. obsolete
"I saw neither hope of his reclaiming, nor comfort in his being; and was it not then better bestowed upon his uncle than upon one of his aunts?—I need not say bawd, for every one knows what aunt stands for in the last translation."
Example
"Linda was wildly excited to learn that her aunt Nancy was coming to visit her."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "aunt"?
Common synonyms include: auntie, aunty, ant, aunt by marriage, auntie, auntyji.
How do you use "aunt" in a sentence?
Linda was wildly excited to learn that her aunt Nancy was coming to visit her.
How do you pronounce "aunt"?
Pronounced /ɑːnt/.
Etymology
From Middle English aunte, from Anglo-Norman aunte, from Old French ante, from Latin amita (“father's sister”). Displaced native Middle English modrie (“aunt”) (from Old English mōdriġe (“maternal aunt”); compare Old English faþu, faþe (“paternal aunt”)). The digraph ⟨au⟩ representing /æ ~ ɑː/ instead of the expected /ɔː/ is irregular, and has not been conclusively explained (compare launch, which contains /ɑː/ in some UK dialects).