avunculate

A1V4U1N1C3U1L1A1T1E1
/əˈvʌŋkjʊlət/

noun

The relationship between a man and his sister's children, generally her sons.

“avunculate society”

Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounavunculate (plural avunculates)

plural avunculates

  1. anthropologyThe relationship between a man and his sister's children, generally her sons.
  2. anthropologyAmong certain tribal peoples, for example, the Korowai, a special relationship between a man and a maternal uncle, and the mutual responsibilities between them.
adjectiveavunculate (not comparable)
  1. not comparableanthropologyPertaining to a society where the avunculate is of central importance.

    avunculate society

  2. not comparablePertaining to a marriage to one's aunt, uncle, niece or nephew.

    avunculate marriage

Origin

From Classical Latin avuncul(us) (“maternal uncle”) + -ate.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan avunculat
  • avunculatrelationship between a man and his sister's children
Czech avunkulát
  • avunkulátrelationship between a man and his sister's children
French avunculat, avunculaire
  • avunculatrelationship between a man and his sister's children
  • avunculairepertaining to a society where the avunculate is of central importance
German Avunkulat
  • Avunkulatrelationship between a man and his sister's children
Italian avuncolato
  • avuncolatorelationship between a man and his sister's children
Polish awunkulat, wujeczny
  • awunkulatrelationship between a man and his sister's children
  • wujecznypertaining to a society where the avunculate is of central importance
Portuguese avunculado
  • avunculadorelationship between a man and his sister's children
Russian авункулат
  • авункулат (avunkulat)relationship between a man and his sister's children
Spanish avunculado
  • avunculadorelationship between a man and his sister's children
Turkish dayıerki
  • dayıerkirelationship between a man and his sister's children
Cite this entry
APA

avunculate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/avunculate

MLA

“avunculate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/avunculate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “avunculate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/avunculate.

Source: avunculate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.