Another Word for Family: 18 Synonyms with Examples
A family is a group of related people, especially parents and children, or a group of related things. Swap it to suggest a wider circle, ancestry or a household.
As a noun: people related to each other
- relatives
- relations
- kin
- household
- folks
- clan
- nearest and dearest
As a noun: ancestors or descent
- ancestry
- lineage
- descent
- parentage
- roots
- bloodline
As a noun: a group of related things
Need a different word?Look up any word in the synonym finder →
How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- relatives
- Members of your wider family, beyond your home.
- kin
- Formal or old-fashioned; used in "next of kin".
- household
- Everyone living in one home, related or not.
- folks
- Informal; often means your parents.
- ancestry
- The people your family comes from in the past.
- clan
- A large extended family; also used humorously.
Example sentences
- relatives: We visit relatives in Scotland every summer.
- kin: Write the name of your next of kin on the form.
- household: Every household received a leaflet about recycling.
- folks: I'm going home to see my folks this weekend.
- ancestry: She traced her ancestry back to Irish weavers.
- clan: The whole clan gathered for Grandma's ninetieth birthday.
Opposite of family
- stranger
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “family”. Check the meaning before you use one.
noun: house, home, menage, folk, kinfolk
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “family”?
The most useful alternatives are “relatives”, “relations”, “kin”, “household”, “folks”. For the main sense (people related to each other), “relatives” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “relatives” and “kin”?
relatives: Members of your wider family, beyond your home. kin: Formal or old-fashioned; used in "next of kin".
What is the opposite of “family”?
Common antonyms are “stranger”.