familiarity

noun

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

, -ˈ(y)a-rə-; -ˌmil-ˈyer-, -ˌmil-ˈya-rə- \

plural familiarities

Definition of familiarity

1a : the quality or state of being familiar

b : a state of close relationship : intimacy

2a : absence of ceremony : informality

b : an unduly informal act or expression : impropriety

c : a sexual liberty

3 : close acquaintance with something

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Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About familiarity

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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 Democrat Cheri Beasley’s internal polling has her in a dead heat with both Republican Rep. Ted Budd and former Gov. Pat McCrory, with the Democrat sporting higher favorable numbers (but lower familiarity among general electorate voters). — Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 13 May 2022 Ford’s familiarity with Ellington proved useful then, too, when Mingus allowed Ford to sit in with his band. — Bill Beuttler, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022 Multiverse of Madness is one of the Marveliest of them all — a convoluted plot machine that runs on MacGuffins and fan-service guest appearances, and which requires familiarity with a whole syllabus of past adventures. — A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2022 The initial awkwardness of the first few lessons gave way to more familiarity and ease. — Sabith Khan, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 May 2022 But Black may be assuming too much familiarity with these personages on the part of viewers, and the scenes detract — at least in the first five episodes screened for critics — from the main story line’s momentum. — Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2022 But familiarity would not explain his strident concurring opinion in Vaello-Madero; none of the various U.S. island territories fall under the landlocked Tenth Circuit’s jurisdiction. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 27 Apr. 2022 Others are homesick, ready to return to their roots, years after careers took them away from family and familiarity. — Lila Maclellan, Quartz, 19 Apr. 2022 That continuity and familiarity has been key to the group’s development this spring. — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 13 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'familiarity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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