next of kin

noun phrase

: one or more persons in the nearest degree of relationship to another person

Examples of next of kin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officers headed to the 900 block of North 5th Avenue, and got there shortly after the man — whose name is being withheld until his next of kin has been notified — had managed to make his way into the lobby of the property. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024

The woman’s identity is being withheld until her next of kin has been notified, according to police. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Nov. 2024

If a person is identified but their next of kin can't be found, their case is moved to NamUs's unclaimed persons database. —CBS News, 27 Nov. 2024

His name has not been released publicly pending his formal identification and notification of his next of kin by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

next of kin

1

: one or more living persons in the nearest degree of relationship to a particular individual

2

: those persons entitled by statute to receive the property in an intestate's estate compare heir