kin

¹

[ kin ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. a person's relatives collectively; kinfolk.
2. family relationship or kinship.
3. a group of persons descended from a common ancestor or constituting a people, clan, tribe, or family.
4. a relative or kinsman.
5. someone or something of the same or similar kind:

   philosophy and its kin, theology.

adjective

1. of the same family; related; akin.
2. of the same kind or nature; having affinity.

-kin

²

1. a diminutive suffix of nouns:

   lambkin.

-kin

¹

suffix forming nouns

1. small

   lambkin

kin

²

/ kɪn /

noun

1. a person's relatives collectively; kindred
2. a class or group with similar characteristics
3. See next of kin

adjective

1. postpositive related by blood
2. a less common word for akin

Other Words From

• kinless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kin¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cyn; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German kunni, Old Norse kyn, Gothic kuni; akin to Latin genus, Greek génos, Sanskrit jánas; gender ¹.

Origin of kin²

Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German -ken; cognate with German -chen

Word History and Origins

Origin of kin¹

from Middle Dutch, of West Germanic origin; compare German -chen

Origin of kin²

Old English cyn; related to Old Norse kyn family, Old High German kind child, Latin genus kind

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of kin, of the same family; related; akin:

   Although their surnames are identical they are not of kin.

More idioms and phrases containing kin

see kith and kin .

Example Sentences

Knowles, Destiny’s Child’s former costume designer and mother to “Cranes in the Sky” artist Solange, isn’t shy about celebrating her superstar kin.

From Los Angeles Times

He said that he knew of no family connection to the Rothschilds, and that he and his kin were not Jewish.

From Los Angeles Times

Her name was not being released pending notification of next of kin.

From Los Angeles Times

Recently when some victims were identified their next of kin found out on Facebook because the Iraqi authorities didn’t contact them.

From BBC

He said her next of kin had been updated on the development and are being supported by specialist family liaison officers.

From BBC