clan

Everyday

1. A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland. tree →
2. A clan is a big, close family or a group of friends who stick together (informal). tree →
3. In online games, a clan is a team of players. tree →
4. A clan can also be a group of animals, such as porpoises, that live and travel together. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, Scottish clans such as the MacDonalds had chiefs, tartans and lands. In stories, clans can be rival groups (e.g. cats in «Warriors» books). Informally: «the whole clan came for Christmas».

Examples

• The MacGregor clan had its own tartan. tree →
• The whole clan came round for Gran's birthday. tree →
• Each clan in the story had a different leader. tree →
• He joined a clan in his online game. tree →
• Clans in the Highlands sometimes fought each other. tree →
• Our family is a noisy clan. tree →
• Porpoises went snorting past in bands and clans. tree →

Note

Countable. Members of a clan are «clansmen/clanswomen». Do not confuse with «Klan» (the Ku Klux Klan, a hate group in the USA).