# kindred

/ˈkɪndɹɪd/ (US) · /kˈɪndɹəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kindred
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. similar in character

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having similar ideas, feelings, or qualities.

For teachers: sharing a similar nature, character, or set of beliefs. Often used in the fixed phrase 'kindred spirits'.

- They became best friends immediately because they were kindred spirits who loved nature.
- The two philosophers found they were kindred souls, sharing a profound skepticism toward the prevailing political theories of their era.

Usage: Commonly precedes the noun it modifies, particularly in the idiom 'kindred spirits'.

### 2. related by blood

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

coming from the same family or having the same ancestors.

For teachers: connected by blood relationship or common ancestry.

- The two royal families were kindred tribes from the same northern region.
- The anthropologist traced the migration patterns of kindred groups across the archipelago to determine their shared linguistic roots.

### 3. family or relatives

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

your family and all your relatives.

For teachers: a person's relatives or family collectively; kin.

- He went back to his village to spend the holidays with his kindred.
- She felt a duty to protect her kindred, even those distant cousins she had never met in person.

### 4. similarity or connection

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a feeling of being connected or similar to someone or something.

For teachers: a natural liking for or identification with something; affinity.

- She felt a strange kindred with the lonely characters in the book.
- There is a clear kindred between the two musical styles, despite them developing on different continents.

## Examples

- They are kindred spirits who both love old movies.
- The two artists felt a kindred connection the moment they began discussing their shared influences.
- Though the two political movements emerged in different countries, they were driven by kindred philosophies regarding social justice and economic reform.

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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.