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.

Tuition that outpaced inflation for decades has saddled students and families with high debt and yielded uneven returns on the time and money poured into a four-year degree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

There is no cost to families, and Autism BrainNet coordinates all arrangements.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

"Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won't be able to hurt other families like ours."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Brain donation also does not interfere with funeral plans, allowing families to honor their loved ones while contributing to research that could lead to future breakthroughs.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Capron’s publication ended with a two-page list of witnesses: doctors, judges, ministers, editors, lawyers, and prominent families throughout the country.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock