noun
niece
NEESS/niːs/
A daughter of one's sibling or sibling-in-law.
The woman smiles at her niece, who holds her father's hand.
Etymology
Latin neptis meant “granddaughter” and later also “niece.” English likewise once used niece for granddaughters and other female relatives before narrowing to the daughter of a sibling or sibling-in-law.
In context
Don Quixote’s niece and housekeeper were not idle, for by a thousand signs they began to perceive that their uncle and master meant to give them the slip
More examples
- My husband's brother brings our niece to dinner.
- I help my niece with her math homework.
- Her two nieces share a room when they visit.
Forms
niece · nieces
Similar words
- relative
- A broader term for any family member, regardless of gender.