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
Anya Taylor-Joy, in her film debut as the family's teenage daughter, appears to be the center of the escalating occurrences, as the clan begins to splinter.
—
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
It was previously announced that Andrew would be excluded from Christmas celebrations with the rest of the Windsor clan.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The Sturlungs were a powerful Icelandic clan and the Sturlung Saga is a collection of Icelandic stories and histories written and assembled in the 12th and 13th centuries.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Hamas, meanwhile, has reasserted its control over parts of the enclave that Israel has withdrawn from — deploying armed police officers, clashing with rival clans, directly firing on and killing Israeli troops and carrying out at least one public execution.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
It was previously announced that Andrew would be excluded from Christmas celebrations with the rest of the Windsor clan.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The Sturlungs were a powerful Icelandic clan and the Sturlung Saga is a collection of Icelandic stories and histories written and assembled in the 12th and 13th centuries.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Hamas, meanwhile, has reasserted its control over parts of the enclave that Israel has withdrawn from — deploying armed police officers, clashing with rival clans, directly firing on and killing Israeli troops and carrying out at least one public execution.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
Cite this Entry
“Clan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clan. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share