Family / B2

KIN/kɪn/

Kin means a person’s family and relations (usually uncountable): next of kin; kith and kin. Relatives and family are everyday twins; kinship is the relationship system. Next of kin featured on the consent form. Mix-up: kin vs king; ken. Do not write “a kin” as a countable cousin.

Meaning

A person’s family and relations (usually uncountable; next of kin is the closest relative).

Examples

• “Next of kin featured on the consent form, not a family-tree hobby site.”
• “Kith and kin featured in the memoir, which is the wider-relations sense.”

Good to know

next of kin; kith and kin; kinship. Everyday: family / relatives. Trap: king. Ethics, law, and literature. Family and relations, not a single named friend unless the form says so.

Near in meaning

relatives, family, relations

Topics

New