nepotism

3 definitions found

nepotism - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nepotism \Nep"o*tism\ (?; 277), n. [L. nepus, nepotus, nephew:
     cf. F. n['e]potisme. See Nephew.]
     Undue attachment to relations; favoritism shown to members of
     one's family; bestowal of patronage in consideration of
     relationship, rather than of merit or of legal claim.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           From nepotism Alexander V. was safe; for he was without
           kindred or relatives. But there was another perhaps
           more fatal nepotism, which turned the tide of
           popularity against him -- the nepotism of his order.
                                                    --Milman.
     [1913 Webster]

nepotism - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  nepotism
      n 1: favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in
           power (as by giving them jobs)

nepotism - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  27 Moby Thesaurus words for "nepotism":
     bias, boodle, campaign contribution, campaign fund, discrimination,
     favoritism, graft, inclination, inequality, interest, involvement,
     leaning, one-sidedness, parti pris, partiality, partisanism,
     partisanship, preference, preferential treatment, public tit,
     public trough, slush fund, spoils of office, spoils system,
     undetachment, undispassionateness, unneutrality