familiarity

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

noun

plural

familiarities 

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

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

3. an absence of ceremony and formality; informality.

   Synonyms: unconstraint

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

   Synonyms: license, freedom, liberty

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

6. a sexual liberty or impropriety.

familiarity

/ fəˌmɪlɪˈærɪtɪ /

noun

1. reasonable knowledge or acquaintance, as with a subject or place

2. close acquaintanceship or intimacy

3. undue intimacy

4. (sometimes plural) an instance of unwarranted intimacy

Other Word Forms

• overfamiliarity noun
• prefamiliarity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiarity¹

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

Example Sentences

“He’s a guy that has familiarity and flexibility, both inside and outside,” McVay said.

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The familiarity in Ama’s eyes, the emotion she had when she hugged me, the intensity she held when she was warning me—it didn’t seem like how a stranger would react.

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Despite the apparent familiarity, Horace and Charlie always had to remember that they could play with the Kennedys but we were still Colored.

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But for now, the possibility of a reunion does at least seemingly exist — thanks to Bellinger’s versatile fit, recent resurgence and lingering familiarity with the franchise.

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Maybe it was the orchestra’s greater familiarity with the intricate score, but “Frenzy” had less frenzy and greater in impact in Suntory than it had in Disney.

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Related Words

• boldness 
• closeness 
• freshness www.thesaurus.com
• intimacy