ˈnepəˌtizəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: French népotisme, from Italian nepotismo, from nipote, nepote nephew (from Latin nepot-, nepos grandson, nephew) + -ismo -ism — more at nephew
: favoritism shown to nephews and other relatives (as by giving them positions because of their relationship rather than on their merits)
continued some of the earlier traditions … of nepotism , creating the duchy of Parma for his vicious illegitimate son — R.A.Hall b.1911
British administration at the beginning of the 19th century was honeycombed with nepotism — C.J.Friedrich