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 situation is dramatic. The people here are really worried,” says Grädler, who grew up celebrating Thanksgiving with American families.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

It is true that for the schools catering to wealthier families, assessments are the floor and not the ceiling.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Many families also said that they had been thrown into a tailspin, trying to arrange for weeks of childcare to cover the early finish.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

For almost all the financial goals confronting average American families, such as saving for college or retirement, they’re inferior to tax-advantaged savings plans already on the books.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

I recognize the Armenian and Greek kids who go to church with their families, the Muslim Turkish kids who go to the mosque with their families.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar