kinsman

American  

[kinz-muhn] / ˈkɪnz mən /

noun

plural

kinsmen

1. a blood relative, especially a male.

2. a relative by marriage.

3. a person of the same nationality or ethnic group.

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kinsman British  

/ ˈkɪnzmən /

noun

1. a blood relation or a relation by marriage

2. a member of the same race, tribe, or ethnic stock

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Other Word Forms

• kinswoman noun

Etymology

Origin of kinsman

First recorded in 1100–50, kinsman is from late Old English cinnes man. See kin, 's ¹, man

Example Sentences

But you here, whom nature made the wisest of all people, should drop your anger and make everyone who fights alongside us at sea a kinsman, a citizen.

From Salon

They then decided to make distinctive marks on their cheeks, "akin to the ones their animals had, which would help them in identifying their kinsmen during battles", Mr Makkuwana says.

From BBC

The many characters in “The Books of Jacob” allow for describing Jacob Frank through the words of others, both his enemies and kinsmen.

From Seattle Times

When Mr. Anderson entered the chapel, which was used as a courtroom to hold all 63 defendants, he shook his head and tried to imagine how his kinsman must have felt in that moment.

From New York Times

You could see inequality emerge in the archaeological record with the appearance of temples and palaces, presided over by rulers and their elite kinsmen, and storehouses and workshops, run by administrators and overseers.

From New York Times