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.

The first families from outside the islands only settled in 1969, encouraged by the government who feared losing control of the sparsely populated territory.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Hollinrake called the remarks "yet another distraction... at a time when families and businesses want the government focused on the cost of living, the economy, public services and Britain's defence".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Still, the sector is landing younger, affluent travelers, solo travelers, professionals in their 40s and 50s, and multigenerational families, Marozaite said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

“She fought so that our families would stay together.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

So far, all the families have been nice—well, except for the Templetons—but Melanie makes me feel like we’ve known each other for years.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller