familiarity

noun

fa·​mil·​iar·​i·​ty fə-ˌmi-lē-ˈ(y)er-ə-tē 

-ˈ(y)a-rə-;

-ˌmil-ˈyer-,

-ˌmil-ˈya-rə-

plural familiarities

1

a

: the quality or state of being familiar

b

: a state of close relationship : intimacy

2

a

: absence of ceremony : informality

b

: an unduly informal act or expression : impropriety

c

: a sexual liberty

3

: close acquaintance with something

Synonyms

• belonging
• chumminess
• closeness
• inseparability
• intimacy
• nearness

Examples of familiarity in a Sentence

He spoke to everyone with the easy familiarity of an old friend.

the elderly couple enjoys a familiarity that is the result of many years of happy marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

For some, man units are a way to hold on to a sense of familiarity and confidence around their appearance. —Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Current employees have a deep familiarity with a company’s specific technology stack as well as its goals, culture and standards. —Nicola Sfondrini, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Every year provides a mix of comforting familiarity and surprising variety, on television broadly as well as in the Vulture recaps section specifically. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

This was largely due to the comfortability and familiarity fostered on set, i.e. their home. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

familiarity

noun

fa·​mil·​iar·​i·​ty fə-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē 

-ˌmil-ē-ˈar-

plural familiarities

1

: close friendship : intimacy

2

: lack of formality : freedom and ease in personal relations

3

: close acquaintance with or knowledge of something

4

: an overly bold act or expression