familiarity

[ fuh-mil-ee-ar-i-tee, -mil-yar- ]
/ fəˌmɪl iˈær ɪ ti, -mɪlˈyær- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR familiarity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural fa·mil·i·ar·i·ties.

thorough knowledge or mastery of a thing, subject, etc.
the state of being familiar; friendly relationship; close acquaintance; intimacy.
an absence of ceremony and formality; informality.
freedom of behavior justified only by the closest relationship; undue intimacy.
Often familiarities. an instance of such freedom, as in action or speech.
a sexual liberty or impropriety.

Origin of familiarity

1350–1400; Middle English familiarite (< Anglo-French) < Latin familiāritās intimacy. See familiar, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM familiarity

o·ver·fa·mil·i·ar·i·ty, noun pre·fa·mil·i·ar·i·ty, noun

Words nearby familiarity

familial periodic paralysis, familial polyendocrine adenomatosis, familial screening, familial spinal muscular atrophy, familiar, familiarity, familiarity breeds contempt, familiarize, familism, familist, famille

Words related to familiarity

boldness, intimacy, closeness, freshness, understanding, knowledge, awareness, sense, presumption, acquaintance, fellowship, freedom, ease, forwardness, liberty, sociability, naturalness, openness, friendship, informality

Example sentences from the Web for familiarity

British Dictionary definitions for familiarity

familiarity
/ (fəˌmɪlɪˈærɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

reasonable knowledge or acquaintance, as with a subject or place
close acquaintanceship or intimacy
undue intimacy
(sometimes plural) an instance of unwarranted intimacy