# familiarity

/fəˌmɪɫˈjɛɹəti/ (US) · /fəmˌɪlɪˈæɹɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/familiarity
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. knowledge of something

noun · CEFR B2

the state of knowing a subject or a thing well because you have seen or used it many times.

For teachers: the state of being well-acquainted with or having a good understanding of something through frequent exposure or study.

- His familiarity with the local roads meant he didn't need a map to find the house.
- The candidate's familiarity with international trade law gave her a significant advantage during the final round of interviews.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'with'.

### 2. closeness with a person

noun · CEFR B2

a friendly and informal relationship with someone you know very well.

For teachers: the state of being close or intimate with another person, characterized by informal behavior.

- There was a comfortable familiarity between the two old friends as they sat in silence.
- The long-standing familiarity between the two negotiators allowed them to bypass formal protocols and reach an agreement quickly.

### 3. disrespectful informality

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

behavior that is too informal or friendly in a way that seems rude or disrespectful.

For teachers: an instance of undue intimacy or inappropriate informality that borders on impertinence.

- The boss didn't like the new employee's familiarity and preferred a more professional tone.
- The clerk's sudden familiarity was taken as a sign of disrespect by the elderly customer, who was used to more formal service.

Teaching tip: This sense is often used in the plural ('familiarities') to describe specific actions that were too casual for the situation.

## Examples

- Her familiarity with the city helped us find the hotel.
- The software's interface was designed to provide a sense of familiarity for users switching from older versions.
- While professional familiarity with the subject is required for the role, the candidate must also demonstrate an ability to question established industry norms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.