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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as "deeply distressing" and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Stephens message is pertinent to many rich families as several states have either raised taxes, or are expecting to, on their wealthier residents.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

In diagnosing the problem, the wing of Latin Catholicism that both Francis and Leo represent saw the church’s historical links with elite power structures and oligarchical families as a key vulnerability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

“But it does mark a step toward justice and a measure of closure for the victims and their families whose lives have been forever changed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

“But that’s the point. Even with all the suffering our families went through, we survived. We’re here to tell the story.”

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar