1
a
: a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor
the MacDonald clan
b
: a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor : family
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
2
: a group united by a common interest or common characteristics
the country club clan
Examples of clan in a Sentence
The tribe is divided into clans.
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
Recent Examples on the Web
The third season of Tulsa King found Dwight squaring off against the violent (and desperate) Dunmire clan, as well as a vicious New York mafioso called Quiet Ray (James Russo) and an FBI agent with an ax to grind (Kevin Pollak).
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
The earlier Fire and Ash trailer returns moviegoers to Pandora and introduces two new tribes, the Wind Traders and the fire-hurling Ash People clan.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
The Anishinaabe Clan Park displays the symbols and interpretations of the Ojibwa clan system, per the museum.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Nov. 2025
Powell then called Mitch onstage, with the two snapping another selfie together to bring things full circle for the driver and the whole Powell clan.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
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Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
The earlier Fire and Ash trailer returns moviegoers to Pandora and introduces two new tribes, the Wind Traders and the fire-hurling Ash People clan.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
The Anishinaabe Clan Park displays the symbols and interpretations of the Ojibwa clan system, per the museum.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Nov. 2025
Powell then called Mitch onstage, with the two snapping another selfie together to bring things full circle for the driver and the whole Powell clan.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
Cite this Entry
“Clan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clan. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
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