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.

"For the families, this is really, really difficult. We hear from families who can't reach their loved ones on board ships and they're really frantic with worry."

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

The strain extends to the seafarers' families at home, worried about their stranded loved ones -- or in the worst cases, bereaved.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

After years spent detained in Syria, the freedom of the Islamic State group-linked families who landed back in their homeland of Australia this week was dramatically short lived.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Participating hospitals will distribute the diapers to families at the time of discharge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

If my goal is to pull the files for the remaining boys whose families we haven’t visited there’s no way for me to do so en masse.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse