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 Those of us committed to public education should be asking whether public school families know these resources may be available to them. — Raymond C. Pierce, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 Sporting Wichita Academy said the tragedy had shaken a soccer community built around families and teammates, thanking first responders, medical workers and bystanders who stepped in to help. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 The father of Jessica’s shipmate, Joshua Aviles, also was detained by immigration agents, before later being released, according to his family. — Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 The Capricorn Moon squares the Sun in your sign, making private responsibilities or family dynamics harder to tune out. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 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
  • The Worth clan, especially the demure yet hungry-eyed adult daughter Penny, played by Gail Russell, nurses Quirt back to health after his opening-credits shootout with the Laredo gang — of which Quirt’s a member, looking to get out.
    — Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The streamer and Shondaland announced Thursday that an untitled spinoff about the early life of the future matriarch of the Bridgerton clan is in the works.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • The latest salvo is a two-week ad campaign launching Thursday in the Atlanta and Macon markets, the first broadcast buy of its kind for the caucus.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Non-essential workers—executives, administrators, management of all kinds—disappeared into Zoom en masse across the country.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The resolution was introduced after revelations about Cornell’s handling of Jane Doe’s allegations that she was raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • While Cam Bates returned a punt to the house against Memphis, Broncos returners have also muffed several punts this season.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Chen said another product category that has taken off is their souvenir merchandise.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Adenocarcinomas belong to a broader category of lung cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer, which tend to grow more slowly and spread less quickly to other parts of the body.
    — Alice Park, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • Native American tribes say the approximately 520-acre site in Virginia is sacred.
    — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The company agrees with skeptics like the NFL that justices must eventually opine on whether states and tribes should regulate its sports event contracts as sports bets, a Supreme Court litigator working with Kalshi told Semafor.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • The case originates from a change in admissions policy that began a decade ago, when a consulting group was hired to evaluate how the school system chose students for its middle school magnet programs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The money will go to conservation groups and local partners working on species the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies as endangered, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • The orchard and cidery serves pizzas and pastas alongside hot or cold cider, and hosts live music as folks linger along the outdoor tables with drinks and games.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • For those folks, getting your vitamins via a fun-to-eat, tasty gummy will be a real gift.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about family

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