Definition

A grandaunt is the sister of one's grandparent, or the aunt of one's parent.

Example

My grandaunt shared many stories about our family's history.

Conversation

I just found out that my grandaunt is coming to visit next week.

Oh, that's cool! Have you met her before?

No, I haven't, but I've heard a lot about her from my parents.

It'll be nice to finally meet family you've never seen!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Grandaunt is formed from "grand-" (meaning great or large, derived from Old French *grand*, meaning large or great) and "aunt" (from Old French *ante*, meaning father's or mother's sister). The word refers to the sister of one's grandparent, hence a great-aunt.

Memory Tip

Think of 'grand' meaning great and 'aunt' as a family relation — a grandaunt is a great aunt, or the sister of your grandparent.

Visually Confused Words