kin

¹

[kin]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a person's relatives collectively; kinfolk.

2. family relationship or kinship.

3. a group of persons descended from a common ancestor or constituting a people, clan, tribe, or family.

4. a relative or kinsman.

5. someone or something of the same or similar kind.

   philosophy and its kin, theology.

adjective

1. of the same family; related; akin.

2. of the same kind or nature; having affinity.

-kin

²

1. a diminutive suffix of nouns.

   lambkin.

kin

¹

/ kɪn /

noun

1. a person's relatives collectively; kindred

2. a class or group with similar characteristics

3. See next of kin

adjective

1. (postpositive) related by blood

2. a less common word for akin

-kin

²

suffix

1. small

   lambkin

Other Word Forms

• kinless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kin¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cyn; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German kunni, Old Norse kyn, Gothic kuni; akin to Latin genus, Greek génos, Sanskrit jánas; gender ¹.

Origin of kin²

Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German -ken; cognate with German -chen

Word History and Origins

Origin of kin¹

Old English cyn; related to Old Norse kyn family, Old High German kind child, Latin genus kind

Origin of kin²

from Middle Dutch, of West Germanic origin; compare German -chen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of kin, of the same family; related; akin.

   Although their surnames are identical they are not of kin.

see kith and kin.

Example Sentences

The children's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, the force said.

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She also spoke to a mental health nurse, but no medical professional contacted her next of kin and a referral was never followed through.

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The court heard that next of kin had been traced for both women but they were not present at the opening on Tuesday.

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Her next of kin and the coroner have been told.

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Mark Stewart KC, representing the next of kin, said he was awaiting an expert report from a firearms expert.

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When To Use

What does -kin mean?

The suffix -kin is used as a diminutive. In other words, it denotes that something is "little," either literally or figuratively. It is very occasionally used in a variety of informal and everyday terms.The form -kin comes from Middle English. Similar diminutives in English include -en (as in kitten) and -y (as in baby). Check out our entries for both suffixes to learn how frequently they appear.