Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for familiar

familiar

[ fuh-mil-yer ]

adjective

  1. commonly or generally known or seen:

    a familiar sight.

  2. well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant:

    to be familiar with a subject.

  3. informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained:

    to write in a familiar style.

  4. closely intimate or personal:

    a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.

  5. unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming:

    The duchess disliked familiar servants.

    Synonyms: bold, forward

  6. domesticated; tame.
  7. of or relating to a family or household.


noun

  1. a familiar friend or associate.
  2. familiar spirit. Witchcraft and Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.
  3. Roman Catholic Church.
    1. an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
    2. a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.

familiar

/ fəˈmɪlɪə /

adjective

  1. well-known; easily recognized

    a familiar figure

  2. frequent or customary

    a familiar excuse

  3. postpositivefoll bywith acquainted
  4. friendly; informal
  5. close; intimate
  6. more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
  7. an archaic word for familial
“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

noun

  1. Also calledfamiliar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
  2. a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
  3. an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
  4. a friend or frequent companion
“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
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • faˈmiliarness, noun
  • faˈmiliarly, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

  • fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • fa·mil·iar·ness noun
  • non·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • non·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • pre·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • pre·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar adjective
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • ul·tra·fa·mil·iar adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin familiāris “of a household,” family, -ar 1
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar1

C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

see have a familiar ring .
Discover More

Synonym Study

Familiar, confidential, intimate suggest a long association between persons. Familiar means well-acquainted with another person: a familiar friend. Confidential suggests a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets: a confidential adviser. Intimate suggests close acquaintance or connection, often based on interest, sympathy, or affection: intimate and affectionate letters.
Discover More

Example Sentences

What are some unique butter techniques or usages that some may not be familiar with?

From Salon

Sen.-elect Adam B. Schiff will be sworn in as California’s next U.S. senator on Monday, replacing Sen. Laphonza Butler, according to sources familiar with the arrangements.

Fake peer reviews have become an increasingly familiar type of academic fraud.

If you are woman of color who counts among her former friends a Galinda-type, what happens may seem familiar.

From Salon

Essien is not the only face familiar to Premier League fans who has worked under the Right to Dream umbrella.

From BBC

Advertisement

Related Words

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement