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 company has said it weighs the risk of violence against privacy considerations and the potential distress to individuals and families of involving law enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

"Now other families can get that help too," said Huw's dad Gareth.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Since the behavioral data did not always align perfectly with the species in that phylogeny, the researchers simplified the evolutionary tree to 44 genera, along with five families and one superfamily.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2026

"Payback" is term for traditional punishment under Aboriginal customary law in Central Australia – usually carried out by elders to try and achieve harmony between Indigenous families and groups.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Mrs. Ellen Walter was a well-connected widow with social ties to both the Grinnell and Kane families.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock