familiar

[ fuh-mil-yer ]

/ fəˈmɪl yər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR familiar ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.

well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.

informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.

closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.

unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.

domesticated; tame.

of or relating to a family or household.

noun

a familiar friend or associate.

Also called 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.

Roman Catholic Church.

an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.

Nearby words

familial paroxysmal polyserositis, familial periodic paralysis, familial polyendocrine adenomatosis, familial screening, familial spinal muscular atrophy, familiar, familiarity, familiarity breeds contempt, familiarize, familism, familist

Origin of familiar

1300–50; Middle English < Latin familiāris of a household (see family, -ar¹); replacing Middle English famulier < Middle French < Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR familiar

4 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.

5 forward, bold.

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Related forms

fa·mil·iar·ly, adverbfa·mil·iar·ness, nounnon·fa·mil·iar, adjectivenon·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb

o·ver·fa·mil·iar, adjectiveo·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverbpre·fa·mil·iar, adjectivepre·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverbqua·si-fa·mil·iar, adjectivequa·si-fa·mil·iar·ly, adverbul·tra·fa·mil·iar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for familiar

When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
New York—and Brooklyn in particular—was familiar turf for Brinsley.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But Kent will not let us off the familiar horror hook so easily.
Grief: The Real Monster in The Babadook|Tim Teeman|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thure and Bud were too familiar with this type of wilderness manhood to be worried in the least over their rough looks and dress.
The Cave of Gold|Everett McNeil
The building is so far beyond any familiar proportions that at first sight all details are lost upon its broad front.
Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 2|Francis Marion Crawford
Now, you see, I'm not familiar with some of the things that were discussed with the other bureau commanders.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Forms, now turning into dust, holy in our memories, read these familiar pages.
The Right and Wrong Uses of the Bible|R. Heber Newton
And now more people were coming up the stairs, a drawling, familiar voice—Alma Drew on the landing below.
The Tin Soldier|Temple Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for familiar

familiar

/ (fəˈmɪlɪə) /

adjective

well-known; easily recognizeda familiar figure

frequent or customarya familiar excuse

(postpositive foll by with) acquainted

friendly; informal

close; intimate

more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous

an archaic word for familial

noun

Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc

a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support

an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons

a friend or frequent companion

Derived Forms

familiarly, adverbfamiliarness, noun

Word Origin for familiar

C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family

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

Idioms and Phrases with familiar

familiar

see have a familiar ring.

familiar

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of familiar

SYNONYMS FOR familiar

Related forms

Examples from the Web for familiar

British Dictionary definitions for familiar

familiar

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for familiar

Idioms and Phrases with familiar

familiar