clan

[klan]

noun

1. a group of families or households, as among the Scottish Highlanders, the heads of which claim descent from a common ancestor.

   the Mackenzie clan.

2. a group of people of common descent; family.

   Our whole clan got together for Thanksgiving.

3. 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.

4. Anthropology.

   1. the principal social unit of tribal organization, in which descent is reckoned exclusively in either the paternal or the maternal line.

   2. a group of people regarded as being descended from a common ancestor.

clan

/ klæn /

noun

1. a group of people interrelated by ancestry or marriage

2. a group of families with a common surname and a common ancestor, acknowledging the same leader, esp among the Scots and the Irish

3. a group of people united by common characteristics, aims, or interests

Other Word Forms

• clanless adjective
• interclan adjective
• subclan noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clan¹

1375–1425; late Middle English ( Scots ) < Scots Gaelic clann < Old Irish cland offspring < Latin planta scion, plant, perhaps directly < British Celtic; compare Welsh plant children

Word History and Origins

Origin of clan¹

C14: from Scottish Gaelic clann family, descendants, from Latin planta sprout, _plant ¹

Example Sentences

That it chose not to is almost certainly down to its frustration then over the scam centres which had proliferated in areas controlled by clans allied to the junta.

Read more on BBC

The Shinawatra clan has for two decades been the key foe of Thailand's pro-military, pro-royalty elite who view their populist brand of politics as a threat to the traditional social order.

Read more on Barron's

Impromptu firing squads have dispatched kneeling men they say are members of rival groups, including some of Gaza's powerful clans.

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Gaza has many ancient clans, each with thousands of family members who are sometimes armed and sometimes accused of criminal activity like looting aid.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A video that emerged the same day shows Hamas shooting blindfolded, kneeling members of the Doghmush clan in public.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• band 
• faction 
• gang 
• mob 
• sect 
• society 
• tribe