Kinship: meaning, definitions and examples

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kinship

 

[ ˈkɪnʃɪp ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

family relations

Kinship refers to the relationship between members of the same family, based on blood or marriage.

Synonyms

bond, connection, relationship

Examples of usage

  • There is a strong sense of kinship among the members of the tribe.
  • She felt a deep kinship with her cousin, despite living far apart.
Context #2 | Noun

cultural anthropology

In cultural anthropology, kinship is the system of social relationships that constitute family organization in human societies.

Synonyms

clan system, family structure, lineage

Examples of usage

  • The study of kinship patterns reveals important insights into different cultures.
  • The kinship system in this society is based on matrilineal descent.
Context #3 | Noun

feeling of closeness

Kinship can also refer to a feeling of closeness or connection between people, even if they are not related by blood or marriage.

Synonyms

affinity, bond, empathy

Examples of usage

  • There was a kinship between them that transcended any differences.
  • She felt a kinship with the artist's work, as if it spoke directly to her soul.

Translations

Translations of the word "kinship" in other languages:

🇵🇹 parentesco

🇮🇳 रिश्तेदारी

🇩🇪 Verwandtschaft

🇮🇩 kekerabatan

🇺🇦 спорідненість

🇵🇱 pokrewieństwo

🇯🇵 親族関係

🇫🇷 parenté

🇪🇸 parentesco

🇹🇷 akrabalık

🇰🇷 친족 관계

🇸🇦 قرابة

🇨🇿 příbuzenství

🇸🇰 príbuzenstvo

🇨🇳 亲属关系

🇸🇮 sorodstvo

🇮🇸 skyldleiki

🇰🇿 туыстық

🇬🇪 ნათესაობა

🇦🇿 qohumluq

🇲🇽 parentesco

Word origin

The word 'kinship' has its origins in the Old English word 'cynn', meaning 'family' or 'race', and 'scip', meaning 'shape' or 'creation'. Over time, it evolved to encompass the concept of family relationships and social bonds. The importance of kinship has been recognized across cultures and societies as a fundamental aspect of human society, shaping social organization, inheritance, and identity.

See also: kin, kinfolk, kinsman, kinswoman.