niece

USAGE SUMMARY

'niece' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It refers to the daughter of one's brother or sister. For example, "My brother's daughter is my niece."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The president was also criticised for celebrating his niece Ine's wedding over weekend, in the aftermath of the killings.

The Guardian

Her 15-year-old niece was raped in front of her and she was imprisoned.

The Guardian

Comic performance art was also in on the act, with Figs in Wigs taking an off-kilter look at female objectification in We Object, while in the charming but disturbing show Credible, Likeable Superstar Role Model, Bryony Kimmings and her nine year old niece Taylor, created an alterative aspirational pop star – complete with dance moves – to look at the sexualisation of tween girls.

The Guardian

The story told is of an aunt and uncle who care for their niece and refuse to send her to school with their sons.

The Guardian

This is why RENTA's use of "Aunties" in their campaign is significant, as it reconstructs the affectionate and symbolical relationship the aunt once had with her niece during her adolescence.

The Guardian

'We walked since before five to get here.' says Sabahle, 34, who has come with her sister and her young niece.

The Guardian

Peter Churchman, his wife and their young niece had been in the popular Art Caffe on the ground floor when the attack began.

The Guardian

This has been corrected to say he attended his niece Ine's wedding.

The Guardian

Hours later, carrying his niece, he was still wandering amid the ambulances, police and crowds outside asking if anyone had seen a Filipina woman.

The Guardian

In the former, the weepiest, longest and biggest hit about the home front during the second world war, Temple played Claudette Colbert's sassy daughter, and in the latter, another wartime romance, she was Ginger Rogers's chatterbox niece.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

A couple of days ago, I spoke to Nicola Heaney, the great-niece of Mortensen, who talked with restrained dignity about the past week and how distressing his widow, Jean, who died a couple of years ago, would have found it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a "niece", clarify the relationship further if needed, such as 'my brother's niece' or 'my sister's niece', to avoid ambiguity, especially in legal or formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "niece" when referring to a male relative; the correct term for a male child of your sibling is "nephew". Always ensure you're using the correct term to accurately describe the familial relationship.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "niece" is as a noun, specifically a common noun. It names a specific family relationship. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable word in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

The Economist

28%

The Guardian

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

The Guardian - Sport

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "niece" functions as a noun denoting the daughter of one's sibling. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, and it appears "very common" across various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in register, clarification may be beneficial in formal settings to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "brother's daughter" or "sister's daughter" for increased specificity. It is important to avoid confusing "niece" with "nephew", which refers to a male relative. Overall, "niece" is a well-understood and widely used term for describing this familial relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Brother's daughter

Specifies the exact familial relationship, focusing on the paternal link.

Sister's daughter

Specifies the exact familial relationship, focusing on the maternal link.

Offspring of sibling

A formal and somewhat clinical way to describe the relationship.

Female relative

A broader term indicating a female family connection, lacking the specific degree of kinship.

Female descendant

Combines the female aspect with the concept of descending lineage.

Family member (female)

Even broader, simply denoting a female individual within the family.

Female family member

Similar to "family member (female)" but emphasizes the 'family' aspect.

Female kin

A more general term indicating female relatives.

Descendant

Highlights the lineage aspect, suitable in genealogical contexts.

Kinswoman

An archaic term for a female relative.

FAQs

How to use "niece" in a sentence?

You can use "niece" in a sentence to describe the daughter of your sibling, such as, "My "niece" is visiting me this weekend".

What is the difference between a "niece" and a cousin?

A "niece" is the daughter of your sibling, while a cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle. They represent different degrees of familial relation.

Is "niece" a formal or informal term?

"Niece" is a neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts when referring to the daughter of one's sibling.

What is the male equivalent of "niece"?

The male equivalent of "niece" is "nephew", which refers to the son of one's sibling.