What does kin mean?
Kin is a word for relatives or family members, especially when they are considered as a group. It can describe the people to whom someone is related, as in "Our kin live across the country," or be used as an adjective in expressions such as "She is kin to us." The word often conveys continuity, inheritance, and shared family history, giving it a warmer and more traditional tone than relatives. In legal and administrative language, the fixed phrase next of kin identifies the closest available family contact for someone who is ill, missing, or has died. Although kin can also refer to a wider clan or group descended from a common ancestor, its dominant modern use concerns relatives collectively. Historically related to kind, kin developed its family meaning from Old English cynn, which referred to a family, kindred, or race.
Relatives or family members, especially when considered collectively; also, a family or clan sharing a common ancestor.
"Many of their kin had moved away, but they remained close."
Often treated as a collective noun. The plural kins is possible but uncommon; next of kin is normally invariant.
Related to someone by blood, marriage, or family connection.
"The two families are kin through marriage."
Chiefly used predicatively in the expression "kin to" and in the fixed phrase next of kin.
Usually used as a collective noun, with "kin" referring to a group of relatives. The plural "kins" is possible but uncommon.
"Each of the kins was invited to the anniversary gathering."
The word kin once referred to an entire family or clan, while its relative, kind, began as the same Old English word for a person's kin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of kin
Kin comes from Old English cynn, meaning "family, kindred, or race," and ultimately derives from a Germanic root associated with birth or kinship. The Old English word was collective in its emphasis, referring to a family or group descended from common ancestors. Over time, its meaning narrowed from the wider group to individual relatives, while the related English word kind shifted toward the sense of a class or type. The phrase next of kin preserves the older emphasis on a person's family network.
Related word forms
How kin is actually used
In modern usage, kin often has a warm, familiar tone, though it can sound formal or archaic in business, legal, or administrative contexts such as next of kin. The adjective is mainly used predicatively, as in "She is kin to the royal family," rather than before a noun.
Easily confused with kin
Kin refers to relatives, whereas kind means a sort or type of thing.
Kin denotes the people involved in a family relationship, while kinship denotes the relationship itself.