1
: related by blood : descended from a common ancestor or prototype
The dog and fox are closely akin.
2
: essentially similar, related, or compatible
His interests are akin to mine.
Examples of akin in a Sentence
The two languages are closely akin.
foxes are closely akin to dogs
Recent Examples on the Web
The gameplay is akin to a Tower Defense game but in reverse.
—
Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
Meanwhile, the log posture is the complete opposite, with the person’s arms and legs straight as their body, akin to, well, a log.
—Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024
Wild elephants seem to address each other using distinctive, rumbling sounds that could be akin to individual names.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 10 June 2024
During the mid-1990s in the United States, this country was undergoing a racial reckoning akin to 2020 after George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for akin 
Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
Meanwhile, the log posture is the complete opposite, with the person’s arms and legs straight as their body, akin to, well, a log.
—Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024
Wild elephants seem to address each other using distinctive, rumbling sounds that could be akin to individual names.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 10 June 2024
During the mid-1990s in the United States, this country was undergoing a racial reckoning akin to 2020 after George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for akin
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'akin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near akin
Cite this Entry
“Akin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/akin. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
akin
adjective1
: related by blood
2
: essentially similar or related
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