Clan — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈklan/

Meaning & Definition of Clan

Clan (noun)

  1. a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor
  2. a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor, family
  3. a group united by a common interest or common characteristics

Clan (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially

    "that clan of football fans has parties every weekend on which the New England Patriots play"

    similar: body, bunch, circle, clique, community, coterie, coven, crowd, fold, galère, gang, klatch, lot, network, pack, ring, set
    related: charmed circle, elite, in-group, closed shop, club, college, fellowship, guild, league, organization, society, camp, faction, sect, side, tribe, mess, squad, brotherhood, fraternity, order, sisterhood, sodality, sorority, commune, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederation, congress, council, federation, union
    near: loner, individualist

  2. a group of persons who come from the same ancestor

    "the whole clan gets together only for holidays"

    similar: blood, family, folks, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race (archaic), stock, tribe
    related: blended family, nuclear family, extended family, household, kith, brood, descendant, issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed, clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative, dynasty
    near: ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Clan

The most common words with a similar meaning to Clan:

Archaic: race
body, bunch, circle, clique, community, coterie, coven, crowd, fold, galère, gang, klatch, lot, network, pack, ring, set, blood, family, folks, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, stock, tribe

Related Words for Clan

charmed circle, elite, in-group, closed shop, club, college, fellowship, guild, league, organization, society, camp, faction, sect, side, mess, squad, brotherhood, fraternity, order, sisterhood, sodality, sorority, commune, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederation, congress, council

Near Antonyms of Clan

loner, individualist, ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

Origin & Etymology of Clan

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

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Clan

interclan, subclan

Frequently Asked Questions about Clan

What does "Clan" mean?

"Clan" means a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor. As a noun, it is defined as: a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Clan"?

Other words for "Clan" include body, bunch, circle, clique, community, coterie, coven and crowd. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Clan" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Clan"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Clan". Common alternatives include body, bunch, circle, clique, community, coterie, coven, crowd, fold and galère.

How do you use "Clan" in a sentence?

Examples of "Clan" in a sentence: "that clan of football fans has parties every weekend on which the New England Patriots play"; "the whole clan gets together only for holidays".

Is "Clan" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Clan" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Clan"?

"Clan" is pronounced /ˈklan/.

What is the origin of the word "Clan"?

"Clan" comes from Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic clann offspring, clan, from Old Irish cland plant, offspring, from Latin planta plant. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Clan" meaning "a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially"?

When "Clan" (noun) means a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially, synonyms include body, bunch, circle, clique, community and coterie.