Nepotism (the practice among those with
power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
2. The act of using your
power or influence to get good jobs or unfair advantages for members of your own family.
The word originates from the
mid 17th century and derives from French népotisme or Italian nepotismo, from nipote ‘nephew’ (with reference to privileges bestowed on the ‘nephews’ of popes, who were in many cases their illegitimate sons).