familiarity
playDefinition of familiarity
familiarities
1a : the quality or state of being familiarb : a state of close relationship : intimacy
2a : absence of ceremony : informalityb : an unduly informal act or expression : improprietyc : a sexual liberty
3 : close acquaintance with something
From the M-W Editors
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 of familiarity from the Web
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Over the decades, Calder’s reputation has suffered from over-familiarity.
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Outbreaks of Western fear and paranoia about all Muslims will never be cured by lectures about tolerance, nor by familiarity with well-meaning Muslim neighbors.
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Yet somehow those imperfections have engendered, if not a fondness, then at least a familiarity with my own features in a way long hair never could.
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Turns out, Olympic-level swimmers are abnormally likely to have asthma, and Olin’s research helps train them to cope with attacks, and to even use their familiarity with controlled breathing as an advantage.
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An item which sounds fancy and delicate on paper is paired with a sweet, savory flavor that gives it the familiarity of a backyard barbecue.
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A certain familiarity as the first African-American Attorney General.
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But familiarity bias shouldn’t factor in this assessment, either from the front office or the fan base.
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Herrod discussed his experience teaching at universities in Ukraine in the 1990s and his familiarity with the former Soviet Union.
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.
First Known Use of familiarity
13th century
FAMILIARITY Defined for English Language Learners
familiarity
playDefinition of familiarity for English Language Learners
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: the state of being familiar with something : the state of having knowledge about something
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: a friendly and informal way of acting or talking
FAMILIARITY Defined for Kids
familiarity
playDefinition of familiarity for Students
familiarities
1 : close friendship : intimacy
2 : good knowledge of something His familiarity with the trail was a big advantage to us.
3 : informality
Learn More about familiarity
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See words that rhyme with familiarity Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for familiarity Spanish Central: Translation of familiarity Nglish: Translation of familiarity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of familiarity for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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