families

[fam-uh-leez, fam-leez] / ˈfæm ə liz, ˈfæm liz /

NOUN

kin, offspring; classification

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clan folk group house household people tribe

STRONG

ancestors ancestry birth blood brood children class descendants descent dynasty extraction forebears genealogy generations genre in-laws inheritance issue kind kindred line lineage network parentage pedigree progenitors progeny race relations relationship relatives siblings strain subdivision system

WEAK

heirs and assigns kith and kin menage ménage

Antonyms

STRONG

parent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"If these families leave, what will be left for us?" asked Martin, as he scanned his nearly full restaurant.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Another, which mainly helps wealthier families, is stock-market strength.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

The company has said it weighs the risk of violence against privacy considerations and the potential distress to individuals and families of involving law enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

A witness told the BBC that people had gathered outside Southwyck House, Coldharbour Lane on Friday evening to enjoy the bank holiday sunshine, with families and children attending a summer party.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

“But that’s what happened, and so we’ve lived all our lives in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and so this is where we belong now. It’s what we know. It’s where our families are.”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix