kindred
Americannoun
adjective
-
associated by origin, nature, qualities, etc..
kindred languages.
-
having the same belief, attitude, or feeling.
We are kindred spirits on the issue of gun control.
-
related by birth or descent; having kinship.
kindred tribes.
-
belonging to kin or relatives.
kindred blood.
adjective
-
having similar or common qualities, origin, etc
-
related by blood or marriage
-
a person with whom one has something in common
noun
-
relationship by blood
-
similarity in character
-
a person's relatives collectively
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of kindred
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, variant (with epenthetic d ) of kinrede; see kin, -red
Explanation
Your kindred are your people. If you say are going to visit your kindred during the holidays, that means you are going to visit your relatives. The word kindred can be used as either an adjective or a noun. The noun version is somewhat archaic — you are more likely to encounter this word in classic literature than in casual conversation. You may be more familiar with the adjective version of the word, which has gained popular usage in the term “kindred spirit” or “kindred soul,” which is used to describe those who share similar attitudes, characteristics, or beliefs.
Vocabulary lists containing kindred
Romeo and Juliet
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The Call of the Wild
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Things Fall Apart
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He also raved about chicken fried steak, posting on X: “Every Scottish person in America needs to immediately try Chicken Fried Steak, and you’ll realise we and the Americans are kindred spirits.”
From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026
After buying a copy of Allan Taylor's 1978 LP The Traveller, Ed Sheeran may have spotted something of a kindred spirit in his fellow singer-songwriter.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Godfred, 43, is delighted to be with such a diverse group of kindred spirits.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
What used to be an alliance of kindred souls is viewed by both sides today as a marriage of convenience, loveless and lacking basic trust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026
He was like me—a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Come with me as I follow this host of real-deal Dallas kindreds.
From Southern Living ● Sep. 16, 2010
Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
From Time Magazine Archive
Never again shall there be any such league of Elves and Men; for Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
O people! manners form’d to please All nations, customs, kindreds, languages!
From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Disraeli, Isaac
The Ascent of Mankind in all its nations and peoples and kindreds and tongues is at hand.
From Religion and the War by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
