clan

The word “clan” means a large group of related families claiming descent from a common ancestor. In plain terms, a group of people linked by family ties or a shared ancestor — or, loosely, any tight-knit group.

“Clan” is pronounced klan (/klæn/ in IPA).

Here is “clan” used in a sentence: “The Scottish clan gathered for its annual reunion.”

“Clan” is a noun.

The word “clan” comes from Latin. From Scottish Gaelic clann ("children, offspring"), ultimately from Latin planta ("shoot, offspring").

“Clan” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Clan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large group of related families claiming descent from a common ancestor.

A clan is a group of related families claiming descent from a common ancestor, and clans are often subgroups within a larger tribe. A tribe is usually bigger and may contain several clans linked by shared culture, language, or territory.

A family is typically a small group of closely related people, such as parents and children. A clan is much larger, made up of many families who claim descent from a common ancestor, though informally 'clan' can affectionately describe a big extended family.

'Clan' is closely associated with Scottish and Irish history, where clans were kinship groups sharing a common ancestor and often a surname. Today the word is also used broadly for any group united by descent or loyalty.