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

/ 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

-kin

²

suffix

1. small

   lambkin

Other Word Forms

• kinless 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

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

Origin of kin²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   Although their surnames are identical they are not of kin.

see kith and kin.

Example Sentences

The identity of the victim has not been released because the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner is notifying the man’s next of kin, police said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He would make his concerns local, placing his faith in his land, his labor and the help of his community and kin.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Typically, when someone dies, their next of kin or their estate administrator or executor contacts their financial institution and provides the deceased person’s name and Social Security number, along with a death certificate.

Read more on MarketWatch

The identity of the Marine is being withheld until 24 hours after his next of kin has been notified.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Cardi described her behavior as that of a “mother warrior” and explained the lengths she would go to protect her kin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does -kin mean?

The suffix -kin is used as a diminutive. In other words, it denotes that something is "little," either literally or figuratively. It is very occasionally used in a variety of informal and everyday terms.The form -kin comes from Middle English. Similar diminutives in English include -en (as in kitten) and -y (as in baby). Check out our entries for both suffixes to learn how frequently they appear.