family

noun

ˈfam-lē How to pronounce family (audio)
Definition of familynext
1
as in clan
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor the Adams family made remarkable contributions to American life for more than two centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kind
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and other members of the woodwind family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of family Kaya, who served as Turkey ’s family and social affairs minister from 2016 to 2018, has not responded directly to the allegations. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Thirty-one percent identified health and wellness, with areas of need including childhood and family grief counseling, suicide prevention, and helping seniors who suffer from loneliness and mobility challenges. — Chris Fusco, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 Shameless followed the chaotic lives of the Gallagher family living in poverty on the South Side of Chicago. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026 This project transfers a handwritten family recipe onto a ceramic pie plate using graphite paper and a glass paint marker. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for family
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family
  1. clan
  2. kind
  3. house
  4. category
  5. tribe
  6. group
  7. folks
  8. people
Noun
  • Other members of the Chan clan are played by Vincent Cheng, Phoebe Miu, filmmaker Ng and Alannah Ong.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The government is attempting to improve shattered services and open up an economy closed by the corrupt Assad regime, which ran the economy with an iron fist and embezzled billions for the Assad clan and their allies.
    — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • Rodriguez described her daughter as kind, compassionate and full of life.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • In much of Los Angeles and the surrounding suburbs, $1 million no longer buys a move-in-ready house, forcing buyers to rethink priorities such as location, size, condition and outdoor space.
    — Emily Hochberg, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Eider ducks and black guillemots kept us company as Marcus and Ingela talked about the history of the area including pointing out their house overlooking the sea.
    — Natasha Langan, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Asian cinema accounts for 96 films, women directed 41, and 20 are official entries for the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • It’s been a mixed bag of depressing and good; in the latter category is that my skin has never been better.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • Exhibits here cover the history of the area from its first inhabitants, the people of the Osage and Missouri tribes, to Arrow Rock’s subsequent role in westward expansion.
    — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Twenty-one players, two tribes — there’s still tricks up host Jeff Probst’s sleeve.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • Of the 87 groups that reached the competition, only six completed the course.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Israel said the overnight strike targeted Izz al-Din Bik, a commander in the Hamas militant group.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • And no matter what happens, there are a lot of these folks who win in 2026 will be in real danger in 2028.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole There’s nothing the Southern Living Test Kitchen can’t turn into a casserole, folks!
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of folks
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people

Phrases Containing family

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families
family
family doctor
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Cite this Entry

“Family.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on family

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family

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