1
a
: a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor
the MacDonald clan
b
: a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor : family
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
2
: a group united by a common interest or common characteristics
the country club clan
Examples of clan in a Sentence
The tribe is divided into clans.
The whole clan gets together for the holidays.
Recent Examples on the Web
This public generational saga goes from ancestral investigation (the Fonda clan migrated from Holland to upstate New York in 1654, then Nebraska, where Henry was born) to cultural exegesis.
—
Armond White, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025
Members of the Kennedy clan have held positions at nearly every level of government.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
For Pierce Brosnan, Conrad Harrigan, head of London’s scariest, toughest and most brutal clan, ranks among the darkest characters he’s ever played.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Rather than letting the moment pass, Ye seized it as an opportunity to launch another fiery critique against the Kardashian-Jenner clan, accusing them of manipulating and exploiting his children.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
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Armond White, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025
Members of the Kennedy clan have held positions at nearly every level of government.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
For Pierce Brosnan, Conrad Harrigan, head of London’s scariest, toughest and most brutal clan, ranks among the darkest characters he’s ever played.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Rather than letting the moment pass, Ye seized it as an opportunity to launch another fiery critique against the Kardashian-Jenner clan, accusing them of manipulating and exploiting his children.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clan
Cite this Entry
“Clan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clan. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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