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 loss of so many young lives is difficult to comprehend, and our hearts go out to the victims’ families, friends, classmates, loved ones, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

The two families with a long history of antagonism between them are vaguely costumed as either dark forces of oppression or their victims.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

"Memories and stories forever and that's all you can want for families, isn't it?"

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

“I’ll work every day to make Los Angeles more affordable and create more opportunity, so that Latino families — and all families — can afford to live here and thrive,” Raman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

A church group invited me to speak to a hundred families living in an abandoned factory building.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom