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. See familial
   an archaic word for familial

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

Derived Forms

• faˈmiliarly, adverb
• faˈmiliarness, noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar¹

C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family

Idioms and Phrases

see have a familiar ring .

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.

Example Sentences

One of the people familiar with Pence’s prep work said several debate-related meetings were slated to be held Thursday.

From Washington Post

Obviously, McDonald’s wants to be accommodating of customers, especially during a pandemic, and plenty of McDonald’s workers were probably already familiar with Travis Scott.

From Eater

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Commerzbank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc, ING Groep NV and Societe Generale SA are working on the deal, according to the person familiar.

From Fortune

Two congressional aides and a separate official familiar with the meeting confirmed Biden’s appearance with Democratic senators, which was first reported by Politico.

From Washington Post

Cloud-data software maker Snowflake priced its initial public offering at $120 a share, above the marketed range, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.

From Fortune

Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.

From The Daily Beast

It was one of the few things that felt familiar to him after being away from the outside world since 1975.

From The Daily Beast

When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.

From The Daily Beast

In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.

From The Daily Beast

More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.

From The Daily Beast

Several pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present.

From Project Gutenberg

He was tall and of familiar figure, and the firelight was playing in the tossed curls of his short, fair hair.

From Project Gutenberg

He glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.

From Project Gutenberg

Could this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces?

From Project Gutenberg

A small boy of three years and nine months on receiving from his nurse the familiar order, "Come here!"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• intimate
• mundane
• recognizable
• simple
• usual