# Kennedy

/ˈkɛnədi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kennedy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the political family

noun · CEFR B1

a famous American political family, especially referring to President John F. Kennedy.

For teachers: a prominent Irish-American political dynasty, most notably associated with John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States.

- Many historians study the life and death of President Kennedy.
- The legacy of the Kennedy family continues to influence American political discourse and social policy decades after the president's assassination.

Usage: Usually capitalized as a proper noun; often used with the definite article when referring to the family as a whole.

### 2. an airport or place

noun · CEFR B1

a common name for places, especially the large international airport in New York City.

For teachers: a toponym used for various locations, most frequently referring to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.

- Our flight to London departs from Kennedy at six tonight.
- Traffic congestion around Kennedy often causes significant delays for passengers traveling from Manhattan during peak hours.

Usage: In New York, 'Kennedy' is frequently used as a shorthand for the airport without the word 'airport'.

### 3. a surname

noun · CEFR B2

a common family name that comes from Ireland or Scotland.

For teachers: a surname of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin, widely distributed throughout the English-speaking world.

- There is a student named Sarah Kennedy in my history class.
- The researcher identified several families named Kennedy who emigrated from Ireland during the mid-nineteenth century.

## Examples

- The Kennedy family is very famous in American history.
- Many historians study the Kennedy administration to understand the Cold War and the space race.
- The legacy of the Kennedy era continues to influence modern political discourse, particularly regarding civil rights and international diplomacy during the mid-twentieth century.

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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.