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  1. Home /
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  4. Nepo baby

Nepo baby

/ˈniːpoʊ ˈbeɪbi/
person who benefits from nepotism

Many celebrities are accused of being Nepo babies.

They are criticized for gaining opportunities due to family connections.


informalslang

A person who gains advantages in their career due to their family's wealth, fame, or connections, often in entertainment or business.

The actor was called a Nepo baby after landing a major role through his famous parents.

People criticized him for getting the role because of his family's influence, not talent.

Nepo babies often face backlash for perceived unfair advantages.

Society questions whether their success is earned or inherited.

The term is often used critically to highlight systemic privilege.

Collocations

accused of being a Nepo babycriticized for gaining unfair advantagesNepo baby privilegeadvantages gained through family connections

Synonyms

privileged heirentitled heirinherited success

Antonyms

self-madeearned success

Related Phrases

nepotismphrase
favoritism based on family relationships
old boys' clubphrase
exclusive group of powerful men

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'Nepo baby' to critique systemic unfairness, not individual success.

Gold Rule

Avoid Misuse

Do not apply the term to people who earned success independently.

Word Origin

Blend of 'nepotism' (favoritism based on family ties) and 'baby' (a young person or someone naive). Popularized in the 2020s.

Usage Notes

Primarily used in discussions about inequality in entertainment, business, and politics. Often carries negative connotations.

Word Breakdown

Nepo
short for nepotism
root
+
baby
implies naivety or dependence
root
English Dictionary
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