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.
In October 2020, Maje was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder with the aggravating circumstance of kinship. Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 30 May 2025 Instead of kinship, audiences are likely to feel confusion, as Mahnaz behaves in increasingly self-destructive, irrational ways en route to an ending that provides relief, but no real resolution. Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 May 2025 No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us, and no one can ever stop China's reunification, a trend of the times. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 Image Whatever the answer, many in New Orleans knew enough about the family’s roots by Friday to feel a greater kinship with the pope. Rick Rojas, New York Times, 10 May 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 3 Jun. 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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