Synonyms

blood relation

American

Or blood relative

noun

one related by birth.

blood relation British

noun

a person related to another by birth, as distinct from one related by marriage

"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

Etymology

Origin of blood relation

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They’re not entitled to it by mere fact of blood relation.

From Slate • Dec. 10, 2020

James Blaesing told an Ohio court that he is seeking Harding’s disinterment as a way “to establish with scientific certainty” that he is the 29th president’s blood relation.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2020

We had so many similarities, and yet, he wasn’t a blood relation.

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2017

The actress was not one of the famed director’s three children, and in fact had no blood relation to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2016

Queen Mab’s crown was magically and wondrously wrought so that it passes only from one blood relation to another, in an unbroken line.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023