[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/clan/)

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# clan

noun (a clan, clans)

«clan» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#m1)
2. A clan is a big, close family or a group of friends who stick together (informal). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#m2)
3. In online games, a clan is a team of players. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#m3)
4. A clan can also be a group of animals, such as porpoises, that live and travel together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x1)
- The whole clan came round for Gran's birthday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x2)
- Each clan in the story had a different leader. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x3)
- He joined a clan in his online game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x4)
- Clans in the Highlands sometimes fought each other. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x5)
- Our family is a noisy clan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x6)
- Porpoises went snorting past in bands and clans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/#x7)

### Note

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «clan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«clan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clan.html) on Mova free.