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 shuttle service had primarily been transporting service personnel and their families who had been returning home for Eid.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

"I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of the injured."

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

This inventory mismatch hits families earning around $75,000 especially hard.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, said she was "deeply concerned" and that her office would reach out to the families to offer support.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

And sometimes the families we build are just as strong as those we’re born into.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin