familiar

[ fuh-mil-yer ]
See synonyms for: familiarfamiliarsfamiliarly on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.

  2. well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.

  1. informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.

  2. closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.

  3. unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.

  4. domesticated; tame.

  5. of or relating to a family or household.

noun
  1. a familiar friend or associate.

  2. Also called familiar spirit .Witchcraft and Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.

  1. Roman Catholic Church.

    • an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.

    • a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.

Origin of familiar

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin familiāris “of a household,” see family, -ar1

synonym study For familiar

4. Familiar, confidential, intimate suggest a long association between persons. Familiar means well-acquainted with another person: a familiar friend. Confidential suggests a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets: a confidential adviser. Intimate suggests close acquaintance or connection, often based on interest, sympathy, or affection: intimate and affectionate letters.

Other words for familiar

Other words from familiar

  • fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
  • fa·mil·iar·ness, noun
  • non·fa·mil·iar, adjective
  • non·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar, adjective
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
  • pre·fa·mil·iar, adjective
  • pre·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar, adjective
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
  • ul·tra·fa·mil·iar, adjective

Words Nearby familiar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use familiar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for familiar

familiar

/ (fəˈmɪlɪə) /


adjective
  1. well-known; easily recognized: a familiar figure

  2. frequent or customary: a familiar excuse

  1. (postpositive foll by with) acquainted

  2. friendly; informal

  3. close; intimate

  4. more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous

  5. an archaic word for familial

noun
  1. Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc

  2. a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support

  1. an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons

  2. a friend or frequent companion

Origin of familiar

1
C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family

Derived forms of familiar

  • familiarly, adverb
  • familiarness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with familiar

familiar

see have a familiar ring.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.