clan
a group of families or households, as among the Scottish Highlanders, the heads of which claim descent from a common ancestor: the Mackenzie clan.
a group of people of common descent; family: Our whole clan got together for Thanksgiving.
a group of people, as a clique, set, society, or party, especially as united by some common trait, characteristic, or interest: a clan of actors and directors.
Anthropology.
the principal social unit of tribal organization, in which descent is reckoned exclusively in either the paternal or the maternal line.
a group of people regarded as being descended from a common ancestor.
Origin of clan
1Other words from clan
- clanless, adjective
- in·ter·clan, adjective
- subclan, noun
Words Nearby clan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use clan in a sentence
If you have someone in your clan who hasn’t heard this yet, please put them on to this one and saved them from becoming Night Night Nate.
Busta Rhymes’ Teaches the Art of Bragging in This Week’s The Playlist | cmurray | December 4, 2020 | Essence.comYou return between missions to interact with your clan, upgrade your gear, trade items and more.
‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ impressions: Rekindling the spirit of the series | Elise Favis | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostThough hyenas spend much of their time alone, group living allows them to defend their turf against rival hyena clans and to gang up against threatening lions, he says.
Female hyenas may be out for cubs’ blood — even within their own clans.
The sun could come from a large, loose-knit clan or a small family that’s always fighting.
Pinning down the sun’s birthplace just got more complicated | Lisa Grossman | July 20, 2020 | Science News
My name is Romulous, I lead the Dark Angels or xDAx a clan primarily based out of Warhammer.
The U.S. Veteran and Wisconsin Boy Who Went to Fight ISIS in Syria | Jacob Siegel | October 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFranco plays Benjy, the mentally handicapped—and eventually, castrated—member of the Compson clan.
James Franco and Scott Haze on 'The Sound and the Fury' and Gawker 'Outing' Them As A 'Couple' | Marlow Stern | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut he said that the Qawasmeh clan has had a long history of working closely with Hamas leadership.
Israeli Claim: Hamas Funded the Kidnapper Who Started the Gaza War | Eli Lake | August 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHappy to be the least of her clan, she becomes greatest among them.
The crowd was there to listen to Chappelle riff on everything from the Wu-Tang clan to Barack Obama to gay rights.
Dave Chappelle’s Triumphant Return to New York City | Alex Suskind | June 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMark out in your sand-box the boundary lines of the hunting ground of the Horse clan.
The Later Cave-Men | Katharine Elizabeth DoppThe strange clan always used it on their way to and from the lowland plains.
The Later Cave-Men | Katharine Elizabeth DoppThe strangers soon went away, and the Bison clan forgot about them.
The Later Cave-Men | Katharine Elizabeth DoppThe head man of the agricultural clan was elected by the free choice of his fellows, his equals in rank and station.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisWestern gamblers are legion—a reckless, money-plunging, romantic and venturesome yet an admittedly square-shooting clan.
British Dictionary definitions for clan
/ (klæn) /
a group of people interrelated by ancestry or marriage
a group of families with a common surname and a common ancestor, acknowledging the same leader, esp among the Scots and the Irish
a group of people united by common characteristics, aims, or interests
Origin of clan
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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