familiarity

noun

fa·​mil·​iar·​i·​ty fə-ˌmi-lē-ˈ(y)er-ə-tē 

-ˈ(y)a-rə-;

-ˌmil-ˈyer-, 

-ˌmil-ˈya-rə-

plural familiarities

1

a

: the quality or state of being familiar

b

: a state of close relationship : intimacy

2

a

: absence of ceremony : informality

b

: an unduly informal act or expression : impropriety

c

: a sexual liberty

3

: close acquaintance with something

Synonyms of familiarity

• intimacy
• belonging
• kinship

Examples of familiarity in a Sentence

He spoke to everyone with the easy familiarity of an old friend.

the elderly couple enjoys a familiarity that is the result of many years of happy marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Korea itself, despite its entertainment export prowess, is still building audience familiarity with the format. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025

Experience and familiarity are on their side. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Nov. 2025

This is where we are collectively called to look at where familiarity and longing are actually a form of confinement. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025

Unlike your next-door neighbor’s house, where every room might carry a thread of familiarity through it, a show house is bursting with different styles from one room to the next because a different interior designer oversees each room. —Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for familiarity

• angularity
• bipolarity
• capillarity
• cellularity
• circularity
• granularity
• insincerity
• insularity
• modularity
• osmolarity
• popularity
• regularity

Kids Definition

familiarity

noun

fa·​mil·​iar·​i·​ty fə-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē 

-ˌmil-ē-ˈar-

plural familiarities

1

: close friendship : intimacy

2

: lack of formality : freedom and ease in personal relations

3

: close acquaintance with or knowledge of something

4

: an overly bold act or expression