familiar
commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.
well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.
informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.
closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.
unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.
domesticated; tame.
of or relating to a family or household.
a familiar friend or associate.
Also called familiar spirit .Witchcraft and Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.
Roman Catholic Church.
an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.
Origin of familiar
1synonym study For familiar
Other words for familiar
Other words from familiar
- fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- fa·mil·iar·ness, noun
- non·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- non·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- o·ver·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- pre·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- pre·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- qua·si-fa·mil·iar, adjective
- qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- ul·tra·fa·mil·iar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for familiar
/ (fəˈmɪlɪə) /
well-known; easily recognized: a familiar figure
frequent or customary: a familiar excuse
(postpositive foll by with) acquainted
friendly; informal
close; intimate
more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
an archaic word for familial
Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
a friend or frequent companion
Origin of familiar
1Derived forms of familiar
- familiarly, adverb
- familiarness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with familiar
see have a familiar ring.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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