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.

Kevin Docherty was one of several families detailing the failures of police in handling the disappearances of their loved ones.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Protests are expected around the stadium throughout the day, including demonstrations by the teachers’ union and groups representing the families of missing persons.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

For the families of Mexico’s missing, the millions spent on high-tech stadium shields are an insult.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Warrington South MP Sarah Hall said Lucy's death had "exposed serious gaps in the support available to British families when a loved one dies abroad in suspicious circumstances".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Patrons— families with young children, groups of chattering friends, couples on dates, and solo diners—sit at green picnic tables, their plates piled with food.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith