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.

"It's not Marshall Haftar's army, nor an army for the east, west or south. It's the army of all Libyans, tribes and families."

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

“She fought so that our families would stay together.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described moms.gov as an opportunity for the administration to strengthen its commitment to American families.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

They rise when Americans feel secure enough financially, and soften when families are under duress.

From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026

“It wasn’t the DuBois or the Shea families; I didn’t even meet them. It was Mr. Dannenberg.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse