clan

noun

ˈklan 

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

Synonyms of clan

• clique
• community
• crowd
• network
• circle
• pack
• bunch
• gang
• coven
• tribe
• organization

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

Last year’s winner, Gaypalani Wanambi, clinched the award with her artwork Burwu, blossom, which paid homage to the Marrakulu clan from which she is descended. — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026

All Palestinian clans and families in Gaza would also be a target for disarmament, which would have an impact on the future of Hamas and Palestinian armed struggle. — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

As with the rest of the clan, this will most likely be installed at event spaces, lecture halls, immersive museums, large meeting rooms and the like since this range is aimed at businesses not consumers. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026

The scattering of the Wariboko war-canoe clan started with Princewill, the youngest son of Chadwick. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic clann offspring, clan, from Old Irish cland plant, offspring, from Latin planta plant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing clan

• inter-clan
• sub-clan

Rhymes for clan

• an
• ban
• bran
• can
• cann
• duan
• fan
• flan
• gran
• jann
• klan
• lan

Kids Definition

clan

noun

ˈklan 

1

a

: a group (as in the Scottish Highlands) made up of households whose heads claim to have a common ancestor

b

: a group of people having a common ancestor : family

2

: a group of persons united by a common interest

the whole clan of actors