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.

Cambodia has been fertile ground for cybercrime, analysts say: It has fast internet, the economy runs mostly on the dollar and top government posts often pass within families from one generation to the next.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

She said some families and cattle ranchers have a genuine fear of predators.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

Michelle Maloney, who is representing the families of both Texas patients in malpractice lawsuits, said she was pleasantly surprised by the board’s recent actions.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

The citrus families became royal in the Sunshine State.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

“Our families live out of state, which makes getting childcare difficult,” she explains.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller