Dictionary.com
definitions

familiarity

[ fuh-mil-ee-ar-i-tee, -mil-yar- ]
/ fəˌmɪl iˈær ɪ ti, -mɪlˈyær- /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR familiarity ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED CONTENT

What DoesRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
wunderbarRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

boldness, intimacy, closeness, freshness, understanding, knowledge, awareness, sense, presumption, acquaintance, fellowship, freedom, ease, forwardness, liberty, sociability, naturalness, openness, friendship, informality

Nearby words

  1. familial polyendocrine adenomatosis,
  2. familial screening,
  3. familial spinal muscular atrophy,
  4. familiar,
  5. familiarise,
  6. familiarity breeds contempt,
  7. familiarization,
  8. familiarize,
  9. familiarly,
  10. familism

Origin of familiarity

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

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

Word Origin and History for familiarity

familiarity

n.

c.1200, from Old French familiarite and directly from Latin familiaritatem (nominative familiaritas) "intimacy, friendship," from familiaris "friendly, intimate" (see familiar). Meaning "undue intimacy" is from late 14c. That of "close acquaintance" is from c.1600.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper