nepotism (noun) - the act or practice of someone with power or influence granting an advantage, privilege, or position to relatives, friends, or associates; patronage based on kinship [nep-uh-tiz-uhm]
nepotistic means of, pertaining to, or characterized by favoritism based on family relationships
nepo baby is a modern term for any relative of a celebrity or powerful person perceived to have earned success due to connections and favoritism rather than merit
nephew is the male child of one’s sibling or sibling-in-law
BREAKDOWN: The stain of nepotism may color all of human history, but the word we use to describe this brand of favoritism isn’t quite as old. From the French népotisme back to the Italian nepotismo and ultimately the Latin nepos meaning nephew or grandson, the word was originally coined during medieval times to condemn the practice of popes appointing their nephews to important ecclesiastical positions.
“Like the good ape he is, man is a social animal, characterized by cronyism, nepotism, corruption, and gossip. That’s the intrinsic blueprint for our ethical behavior.” —Carlos Ruiz Zafon
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classic roots.]