Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Well known or easily recognized: Known from frequent or close association.
   • Common and ordinary; not strange: Within normal, everyday experience.
   • Having a good knowledge of something: (Usually followed by 'with') Well informed about or knowing thoroughly.
   • Informal or intimate in manner: Characterized by a lack of formality or ceremony, sometimes excessively so.

2. Noun:

   • A close friend or companion: A person who is frequently in the company of another.
   • A spirit, often in animal form: In folklore, a spirit that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard.
   • A household attendant: A person attached to the household of a high official (e.g., a pope or bishop) who renders service.

Usage

• Adjective:

  • Use "familiar" to describe something commonly known or recognized. (a familiar face)
  • Use "familiar" to describe an ordinary, everyday experience. (a familiar routine)
  • Use "familiar with" to indicate personal knowledge or experience of a subject. (She is familiar with the software.)
  • Use "familiar" to describe an informal, sometimes overly casual, attitude or behavior. (His familiar tone was considered rude.)

• Noun:

  • Use "familiar" to refer to a close associate. (He was a familiar of the artist.)
  • Use "familiar" in the context of folklore and witchcraft. (The witch's familiar was a black cat.)

Examples

• Adjective:

  • The song had a familiar melody.
  • We returned to the familiar surroundings of home.
  • Are you familiar with the new safety procedures?
  • The waiter was too familiar, addressing customers by nicknames.

• Noun:

  • The duke was always surrounded by his familiars.
  • In the story, the sorcerer's familiar could speak.

Advanced Usage

• On familiar terms: Having a relationship characterized by informality and intimacy.

  • After years of collaboration, they were on familiar terms.

• A familiar face: A person one knows or recognizes.

  • It's nice to see a familiar face in a new city.

Variants and Related Words

• Familiarity (n): Close acquaintance with or knowledge of something; relaxed friendliness or intimacy.

  • His familiarity with the subject was impressive.
  • She greeted him with easy familiarity.

• Familiarize (v): To make (someone) acquainted with something.

  • The orientation will familiarize you with the campus.

• Unfamiliar (adj): Not known or recognized; novel.

  • He was in an unfamiliar part of town.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Common, well-known, customary, acquainted, intimate, informal.
• Noun: Companion, associate, attendant, spirit.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Unfamiliar, unknown, strange, foreign, formal, distant.

Related Phrases

• Familiar ground: A subject or situation one knows well.

  • When they discussed history, he was on familiar ground.

• Familiar spirit: Another term for a witch's or wizard's attendant spirit (noun sense).

  • The old tale spoke of a witch and her familiar spirit.

Adjective

1. having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
   • on familiar terms
   • pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders
2. (usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
   • conversant with business trends
   • familiar with the complex machinery
   • he was familiar with those roads
3. within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange
   • familiar ordinary objects found in every home
   • a familiar everyday scene
   • a familiar excuse
   • a day like any other filled with familiar duties and experiences
4. well known or easily recognized
   • a familiar figure
   • familiar songs
   • familiar guests

Noun

1. a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
2. a friend who is frequently in the company of another
   • drinking companions
   • comrades in arms
3. a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support