GC: n
S: The Guardian (last access: 27 July 2025); WP (last access: 27 July 2025).
N: 1. “favoritism shown to relatives, especially in appointment to high office,” 1660s, from French népotisme (1650s), from Italian nepotismo, from nepote “nephew,” from Latin nepotem (nominative nepos) “grandson, nephew” (see nephew). Originally, practice of granting privileges to a pope’s “nephew” which was a euphemism for his natural son.
2. Appointing unqualified relatives and friends to positions in one’s organization when an outsiders might be better qualified. Typically connected with political office. Where complete trust and willingness to work hard for little or no immediate reward are critical for its survival. if applied sensibly, it is an important and positive practice in a firm’s startup and formative years.
3. nepotism, the unfair practice of granting jobs and other favours to relatives, whether by blood or marriage. Nepotism occurs in all kinds of workplaces and fields, but it is often associated with favouritism in business and politics.
- In education, nepotism occurs when the children or relatives of wealthy or influential people are admitted to elite schools (known as “legacy admissions”). It can also occur when they receive better grades and more opportunities primarily on the basis of their family connections.
- In the workplace, nepotism’s negative effects include unfair treatment, bias in decision making, exclusionary practices, and resentment. In smaller, family-run businesses, nepotism can be an advantage for building a legacy or reducing employee turnover, since family members may be expected to show more loyalty to the company. However, by excluding applicants who introduce new ideas or bring broader experience or a more diverse set of skills, nepotism hinders competitiveness and innovation and can result in company losses.
4. Personnel Management (General): nepotism.
- Favoritism shown to persons by giving them positions because of their relationship rather than their merit.
- We want a system based upon merit. Does this mean “best qualified” or simply that one is selected on the basis of skills and competencies and not on the bais of nepotism or favouritism? If it’s the latter, then we don not need anything more than tools, and redress mechanisms, to ensure competence, not relative competence.
5. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the book
S: 1. Etymonline (last access: 27 July 2025). 2. TLD (last access: 27 July 2025). 3. EncBrit (last access: 27 July 2025). 4. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 27 July 2025). 5. Amazon (last access: 27 July 2025).
SYN:
S:
CR: bribe, bribery, clientelism, influence peddling, prevarication.
