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.

He is serving more families and less people coming in drunk after a night out, as "people can't afford it".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

To many of the families of the dead, returning to Mystic is crass bordering on disrespectful.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Like other members of the diaspora, they retain strong ties to India, with many regularly travelling to visit their families or ancestral homes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

“Evidence suggests that when families have supportive infrastructure around them, they’re more likely to have the children they want to have.”

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

Through her, the spirits converted dozens of families in the surrounding area.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock