NYT Dictionary

FAMILIAR

/fəˈmɪl.jəɹ/
AdjectiveNounfa-MIL-i-arfa-mil-i-ar · 4 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2026

Meaning

Known to one, or generally known; commonplace.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English familiar, familier, from Latin familiāris (“pertaining to servants; pertaining to the household”). By surface analysis, family + -ar. Piecewise doublet of familial. Displaced native Old English hīwcūþ.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

acquaintedclosefriendlyintimatepersonalcheekyfreshimpudentaccustomedfamiliar

Antonyms

ignorantunfamiliarunknownunacquaintedcoldcooldistantimpersonalstandoffishunfriendly

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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