close-knit
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of close-knit
First recorded in 1925–30
Explanation
Close-knit things are intimate, like a close-knit community where everyone knows each other's names and people look out for each other. Awww. The adjective close-knit is perfect for describing a group of people who are socially close. A close-knit neighborhood is very different from one in which people keep to themselves and don't really know each other or have much in common with their neighbors. And a close-knit family is familiar and united in their love for each other. A good way to remember this word is to think of a tightly (or closely) knitted sweater with no gaps or holes; the people of a close-knit community stick together in the same way, leaving no opportunities for someone to "fall through the cracks."
Vocabulary lists containing close-knit
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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.
It has been a period of tremendous upheaval, with many wondering what can, and should, be done to preserve the history and heritage of the close-knit community they love.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
“It was during that time that we established a close-knit friendship and we were well-received by the community as a broadcast duo.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
Sara Nović celebrates the unique, close-knit bonds of her family, which includes both deaf and hearing members.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
A local resident in Ballina told Nine's Today programme the tragedy would be felt across the close-knit town.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
Tremonton had been close-knit since it was settled in 1888 by folks of German descent by way of Tremont, Illinois.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
