akin

adjective

ə-ˈkin 

1

: related by blood : descended from a common ancestor or prototype

The dog and fox are closely akin.

2

: essentially similar, related, or compatible

His interests are akin to mine.

Synonyms

• affiliated
• allied
• kindred
• related

Examples of akin in a Sentence

The two languages are closely akin.

foxes are closely akin to dogs

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump administration had argued that access to the Oval Office was akin to the president deciding which reporters to grant a one-on-one interview. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025

Free People’s soft, breathable version has stripes akin to the ones Kelly Clarkson and Drew Barrymore have been seen wearing this spring. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Getting into the depths of DSM-5 is akin to digging into the weeds or making your way into a dense forest in the mental health realm. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Former Microsoft employees told me the company’s offer was akin to a drug dealer hooking users with free samples. —Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 1 + kin entry 1

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for akin

• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin
• puffin

Kids Definition

akin

adjective

ə-ˈkin 

1

: related by blood

2

: essentially similar or related