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family

noun

ˈfam-lē How to pronounce family (audio)
Definition of familynext
1
as in clan
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor the Adams family made remarkable contributions to American life for more than two centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kind
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and other members of the woodwind family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of family Kaya, who served as Turkey ’s family and social affairs minister from 2016 to 2018, has not responded directly to the allegations. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Thirty-one percent identified health and wellness, with areas of need including childhood and family grief counseling, suicide prevention, and helping seniors who suffer from loneliness and mobility challenges. — Chris Fusco, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 Shameless followed the chaotic lives of the Gallagher family living in poverty on the South Side of Chicago. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026 This project transfers a handwritten family recipe onto a ceramic pie plate using graphite paper and a glass paint marker. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for family
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family
  1. clan
  2. kind
  3. house
  4. category
  5. tribe
  6. group
  7. folks
  8. people
Noun
  • In a clip first shared with Entertainment Weekly, the Oscar-winning filmmaker recalls arranging an appearance on Judge Judy involving the whole Spielberg clan — a 90th birthday gift to his late mother, Leah Adler, a huge fan of Sheindlin’s.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The first occurred in 2008, when Bill Parcells and his clan took over the franchise after Cam Cameron’s 1-15 season.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • Stunned at first by his opponent’s aggressiveness and the onslaught of personal attacks, Ted trains himself to withstand the barrages and to respond in kind.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Smithsonian's Asian art museum is one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The real Johnny Drama stayed at your house for months, and one of the others drove your kids to school.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • First ring, first row of the Koch Theater is widely considered to have the best seats in the house.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • So far, Meta’s famously poor privacy track record in social media has not prevented it from taking the lead in the nascent smart glasses category.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Related Articles The move comes after Christie’s spent years assessing the appetite for the category, most recently with the blockbuster sale of the collection of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • Exhibits here cover the history of the area from its first inhabitants, the people of the Osage and Missouri tribes, to Arrow Rock’s subsequent role in westward expansion.
    — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Twenty-one players, two tribes — there’s still tricks up host Jeff Probst’s sleeve.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • Any groups working on those assessment reports will then be able to lean on the US Climate Collection in the absence of a high-quality US National Climate Assessment.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Miami Herald attempted to reach the group behind the petition but did not receive a response.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • And no matter what happens, there are a lot of these folks who win in 2026 will be in real danger in 2028.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole There’s nothing the Southern Living Test Kitchen can’t turn into a casserole, folks!
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of folks
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people

Phrases Containing family

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families
family
family doctor
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Cite this Entry

“Family.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on family

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family

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