Nepotistic is a term that is used to describe a situation in which someone favors their relatives over others, especially in regards to employment or political appointment. Some common synonyms for this word include: favoritism, cronyism, patronage, bias, partiality, favoring, and familialism. These terms all describe a situation in which someone is giving preferential treatment to people they are related to or have a personal connection with, rather than making decisions based on merit or qualifications. When such practices occur within an organization, they can often lead to a decline in morale and productivity, and can damage the reputation of the institution.