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 Bassam Abed said at least 10 residences housing some 300 families were reduced to rubble, and families were not given enough time to flee. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 Through three generations of the Brown family, the brand cemented its status and moved to Savile Row in the 1990s. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 The vibe is undeniably family-focused, and the place is full of parents who don’t look remotely stressed because the kids are having a wonderful time. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026 Who benefits most Critics argue the program’s biggest winners will be families who can afford to contribute. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 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
  • The Worth clan, especially the demure yet hungry-eyed adult daughter Penny, played by Gail Russell, nurses Quirt back to health after his opening-credits shootout with the Laredo gang — of which Quirt’s a member, looking to get out.
    — Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The streamer and Shondaland announced Thursday that an untitled spinoff about the early life of the future matriarch of the Bridgerton clan is in the works.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • The latest salvo is a two-week ad campaign launching Thursday in the Atlanta and Macon markets, the first broadcast buy of its kind for the caucus.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Non-essential workers—executives, administrators, management of all kinds—disappeared into Zoom en masse across the country.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The woman contacted her 72-year-old father, who came out of the house to remove Gonzalez.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The following day, investigators recovered the two Renoirs from a house in Clermont-l’Hérault, where they had been concealed behind a false wall constructed from bricks and plasterboard.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Chen said another product category that has taken off is their souvenir merchandise.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Adenocarcinomas belong to a broader category of lung cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer, which tend to grow more slowly and spread less quickly to other parts of the body.
    — Alice Park, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • That growth has fueled disputes with states and Native American tribes over regulatory authority, while drawing scrutiny from sports leagues over game integrity and from advocates who say the platforms’ accessibility increases the risk of addiction.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The first two seasons chart the rise of legendary early 19th century Zulu King Shaka, his brilliant battlefield strategy and struggle to unite Zulu tribes under his empire.
    — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • Already, multiple House Republicans; key GOP candidates; and two bipartisan groups of senators have pushed back on the move.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Our ambition is to bring together creative and operational talent within a group that stays human in scale.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • There are so many people out there, such as myself, that really value those skills and are looking to work with folks like you.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Then in the meantime, a lot of the private equity folks are coming in to fill in the void, or different types of buyers are participating in this space and are building their own platforms.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family

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