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.

"We have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners' personnel," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

"This affects the entire community, so we all mourn with these families."

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

The couple co-founded the Ballmer Group, a foundation focused on economic mobility for children and families, in 2015.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Like other members of the diaspora, they retain strong ties to India, with many regularly travelling to visit their families or ancestral homes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

It would be the families of the boys I betrayed.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse