kinship

noun

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

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Unable to fully process the pangs of rejection, Buck decides to write a play based on their early kinship and enlists the help of Beverly (Lupe Ontiveros) to stage the production at a local community theater in order to win Chuck’s affection. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025 The obsession with lineage is at odds with the solidarity of the Middle Passage, which created new forms of kinship. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 There’s no need to censure the desire to forge kinship, to lick one’s wounds, to seek respite or joy. Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025 The road turned to dirt, growing steeper, narrower and more perilous with each turn, but the avid outdoorsman felt a sense of kinship with the looming remoteness. Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kinship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinship. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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