kin

1 of 3

noun

ˈkin 

1

: a group of persons of common ancestry : clan

2

a

: one's relatives : kindred

our neighbors and their kin

close kin

b

: kinsman

He wasn't any kin to you …

—Jean Stafford

3

archaic : kinship

kin

2 of 3

adjective

: kindred, related

-kin

3 of 3

noun suffix

kən

variants or less commonly -kins

kənz

: little

catkin

babykins

Synonyms of kin

Noun

• family
• tribe
• clan
• house
• folks

Examples of kin in a Sentence

Noun

They are her distant kin.

invited all of his kith and kin to his graduation party

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sheriff’s officials said the body will be taken to the Gunnison County Coroner’s Office and that no further information will be released until the pilot’s next-of-kin have been notified. — The Denver Post, Denver Post, 13 July 2026

House Bill 256 expands rights and protections for foster parents, relative caregivers and fictive kin caregivers. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 29 June 2026

Adjective

Some of the helpers were non-kin, demonstrating cooperative social behavior that extends beyond family bonds. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026

Across the country, there is a shortage of non-kin foster homes which makes searching and supporting kin an even greater priority. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cynn; akin to Old High German chunni race, Latin genus birth, race, kind, Greek genos, Latin gignere to beget, Greek gignesthai to be born

Adjective

attributive use of kin entry 1

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Middle Dutch -kin; akin to Old High German -chīn, diminutive suffix

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing kin

• kin selection
• kin to
• kith and kin
• next of kin

Rhymes for kin

• been
• bin
• chin
• din
• djinn
• fin
• finn
• gin
• grin
• in
• linn
• linne

Kids Definition

kin

1 of 3 noun

ˈkin 

1

: a person's relatives

2

: kinsman

kin

2 of 3 adjective

: being related : kindred

-kin

3 of 3 noun suffix

kən

variants also -kins

kənz

: little

—often used in affectionate nicknames

babykins

Etymology

Noun suffix

Middle English -kin "little," from early Dutch -kin "little"

Legal Definition

kin

noun

: one's relatives

kinship

-ˌship 

noun