Definition

A child of one's niece or nephew.

Example

My grandnephew is starting school this year.

Conversation

I just got back from visiting my sister's family.

Oh, how is your grandnephew?

He's grown so much since the last time I saw him!

That's great to hear! Kids grow up so fast.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Grandnephew is formed from "grand-" (meaning great or large, derived from Old French *grand*, meaning large or tall) and "nephew" (from Old French *neveu*, meaning a son of one's brother or sister). The term refers to the son of one's nephew or niece, thus indicating a generational step beyond a nephew.

Memory Tip

Think of 'grand' meaning large or great, and 'nephew' referring to a brother's or sister's son. This helps you remember that a grandnephew is the son of your nephew.

Visually Confused Words