familiarity

[ fuh-mil-ee-ar-i-tee, -mil-yar- ]

/ fəˌmɪl iˈær ɪ ti, -mɪlˈyær- /

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noun, plural fa·mil·i·ar·i·ties.

thorough knowledge or mastery of a thing, subject, etc.

the state of being familiar; friendly relationship; close acquaintance; intimacy.

an absence of ceremony and formality; informality.

freedom of behavior justified only by the closest relationship; undue intimacy.

Often familiarities. an instance of such freedom, as in action or speech.

a sexual liberty or impropriety.

Nearby words

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

Origin of familiarity

1350–1400; Middle English familiarite (< Anglo-French) < Latin familiāritās intimacy. See familiar, -ity

SYNONYMS FOR familiarity

3 unconstraint.

4 liberty, freedom, license.

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Related forms

o·ver·fa·mil·i·ar·i·ty, nounpre·fa·mil·i·ar·i·ty, noun

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

Examples from the Web for familiarity

And there is definitely something to finding solace in food, familiarity, and memory.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Talking about death is never easy, but with food, comfort, and familiarity, a new kind of dinner party is making it easier.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Living in a society openly governed by force with those who have demonstrated their familiarity with it increases the danger.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Familiarity with search-engines helps, a strange quirk of working in this retro medium.
Blurred Lines at NY Sketchbook Museum|Daniel Genis|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The difference is one of familiarity and choice not law or logic.
Supreme Court Justices Looked to Personal Views Rather Than Legal Arguments for Hobby Lobby Decision|Eric Segall|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What enabled him to see it so clearly was his familiarity with the ways of men and the uncelestial politics of Florence.
The Bridling of Pegasus|Alfred Austin
But their great age and the familiarity of their presence had softened the decree in its enforcement.
On the Vice of Novel Reading.|Young E. Allison
It seems to feel that every offer of kindness or familiarity is a menace to its liberty.
St. Nicholas v. 13 No. 9 July 1886|Various
"He approached me with familiarity, I repulsed him with ceremony," said a man of rank, alluding to an impertinence of this kind.
The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion|Henry Lunettes
At first, resenting his familiarity, I would hint at my desire to be alone, would explain that I was busy.
Paul Kelver|Jerome Klapka, AKA Jerome K. Jerome

British Dictionary definitions for familiarity

familiarity

/ (fəˌmɪlɪˈærɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

reasonable knowledge or acquaintance, as with a subject or place

close acquaintanceship or intimacy

undue intimacy

(sometimes plural) an instance of unwarranted intimacy

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

familiarity

noun, plural fa·mil·i·ar·i·ties.

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Nearby words

Origin of familiarity

SYNONYMS FOR familiarity

Related forms

Examples from the Web for familiarity

British Dictionary definitions for familiarity

familiarity

noun plural -ties