clan

noun

ˈklan 

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

Synonyms

• body
• bunch
• circle
• clique
• community
• coterie
• coven
• crowd
• fold
• galère
• gang
• klatch
• klatsch
• lot
• network
• pack
• ring
• set

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

Rejoining the cast are the likes of Cillian Murphy, Stephen Graham and Sophie Rundle, who played Ada, sister to Oscar-winner Murphy’s Birmingham clan leader Tommy Shelby. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024

As these developments intensify, the Chenoweth clan is forced to shelter with their neighbors. —Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

All told, the Kushner clan is worth an estimated $7.1 billion—up from $1.8 billion in 2016. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

The Combs clan comprises seven children, with Love being the youngest. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic clann offspring, clan, from Old Irish cland plant, offspring, from Latin planta plant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing clan

• inter-clan
• sub-clan

Kids Definition

clan

noun

ˈklan 

1

a

: a group (as in the Scottish Highlands) made up of households whose heads claim to have a common ancestor

b

: a group of people having a common ancestor : family

2

: a group of persons united by a common interest

the whole clan of actors