clan

noun

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
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.
The Miller clan, led by its head huncho Master P, were there to dominate everything from music to business in a way that had never been done before from southern artists (or MOST artists in fact). Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 26 June 2025 These are Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. Baptism of Fire sees Geralt caught between two warring clans, and Ciri join a group of thieves called The Rats. Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Her debut came with Mario Monicelli’s Forbidden (1955), playing a young woman in a rugged Sardinian village who tries to help the local priest (Mel Ferrer) broker a peace between warring clans. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025 Macy is the practical one, looking at the sorry finances and trying to keep the clan on course, turning to religion for support as well as a cast member of the troupe, Kyle (Simon Rex) who offers her some empathy and perhaps more (at least that is what we are told later) missing from her life. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for clan

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic clann offspring, clan, from Old Irish cland plant, offspring, from Latin planta plant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of clan was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clan. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

clan

noun
1
a
: a group (as in the Scottish Highlands) made up of households whose heads claim to have a common ancestor
b
: a group of people having a common ancestor : family
2
: a group of persons united by a common interest
the whole clan of actors

More from Merriam-Webster on clan

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