1
a
: a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor
the MacDonald clan
b
: a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor : family
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
2
: a group united by a common interest or common characteristics
the country club clan
Examples of clan in a Sentence
The tribe is divided into clans.
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
Recent Examples on the Web
Warrior Cats is based on Erin Hunter’s feline book series that follows the adventures and drama of multiple clans of feral cats.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 June 2026
North West is no longer the baby of the Kardashian clan.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Francis Ford Coppola's career high mark gave audiences the American crime saga of the Corleone mafia family toward the end of the '50s, with Part II looking back on the criminal clan after Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) moves to the States from Sicily.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
At the end of the second season, multiple armies were mustering for war over King's Landing as the Targaryen clan just couldn't stop betraying each other long enough to govern.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for clan
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Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 June 2026
North West is no longer the baby of the Kardashian clan.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Francis Ford Coppola's career high mark gave audiences the American crime saga of the Corleone mafia family toward the end of the '50s, with Part II looking back on the criminal clan after Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) moves to the States from Sicily.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
At the end of the second season, multiple armies were mustering for war over King's Landing as the Targaryen clan just couldn't stop betraying each other long enough to govern.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for clan
Cite this Entry
“Clan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clan. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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