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 Under Illinois law, none of the $250,000 fine will go to affected families. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Princess Anne—long known as the royal family’s hardest working member—turned 76 years old on August 15. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026 Planning your family’s schedule before the school year starts helps reduce stress and avoid last-minute surprises. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 16 Aug. 2026 Living for his late sister Growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, Brown kept his family close. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 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
  • Prince Harry and Meghan’s surprise homecoming will undoubtedly trigger a frenzy of speculation in Britain where the Windsor clan’s family dramas routinely grip the nation.
    — Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The historic home, situated between Via Rodari and Piazza Roma, dates to the 16th and 17th centuries and takes its name from a noble clan that included Pope Innocent XI, head of the Catholic Church in the late 1600s.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • Zingara Vintage is the place for beachy finds; owner Erin Silver also turns vintage YSL and Pendleton towels into one-of-a-kind pieces.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As of late last year, nearly three-quarters of the more than 70,000 people held in ICE detention — itself a record — had no criminal conviction of any kind.
    — Arlene Marcus, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • In addition, an adjoining house—named Villa Ullastres—is available for guests seeking a separate and more private option while still being close to the heart of the hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • For Alexandre Gobillard, production director at the Gobillard & Fils Champagne house, beginning the harvest in mid-August was once almost unthinkable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Book facing the ocean to catch the dramatic sunsets, and choose the Sapphire Junior Suite or any room category above it to gain access to Haute Living, a private lounge stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The framework scores models across risk categories, including cybersecurity, biological and chemical weapons, and a model’s ability to act autonomously.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • Survivor loves a twist, including new variables, tribe swaps and hidden advantages.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Most of Chocó's 600,000 inhabitants live in poverty, according to figures published last year by Colombia’s national government, and it is largely inhabited by Indigenous tribes and Afro Colombian communities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • For all the chatter about the Georgia wide receiver position this month, Kirby Smart notes that success for that group can’t be self-made.
    — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Leo July 23 – August 22 The fun plan in the group chat may need a little more flexibility today.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • For folks in Australia looking for a compact SUV-sorta car, the ASX VR-e will offer up an alternative to the MG 4 and BYD's Dolphin, both hailing from China.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There’s still time to bring a book to the beach, and the folks sharing on Goodreads have loads of ideas.
    — Ela Jalil, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on family

Nglish: Translation of family for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family

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