kinship

noun

kin·​ship ˈkin-ˌship How to pronounce kinship (audio)
Synonyms of kinship
: the quality or state of being kin : relationship

Synonyms of kinship

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Examples of kinship in a Sentence

He feels a strong kinship with other survivors of the war. feelings of kinship between the team's players and their fans
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People thought the rapper’s distinctively nasal voice had developed an unlikely kinship with Morrissey. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 Her promise expresses, in some way, her kinship with her unmarried aunt, who didn’t trade her own freedom for a set of good knives. — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026 The essays in the book, which focus on beekeeping and other forms of animal husbandry, invite us to explore creaturely worlds beyond our own, and to recognize our kinship with other living beings. — Richard Schiffman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 Carlisle and Childers also found a kinship in their studies of Eastern Religion, an exploration that is deeply threaded through the journey of Snipe Hunter. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kinship

Word History

Etymology

see kin entry 1

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kinship was in 1833

Rhymes for kinship

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Browse Nearby Words

Kinshasa
kinship
kinship system
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Cite this Entry

“Kinship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinship. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

kinship

noun
kin·​ship ˈkin-ˌship How to pronounce kinship (audio)
: the quality or state of being kin : relationship

More from Merriam-Webster on kinship

Nglish: Translation of kinship for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kinship

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