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

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# familiarity

noun (familiarity, familiarities)

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

## Everyday

1. Familiarity is knowing something well because you have seen, heard or done it many times: «familiarity with the rules». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#m1)
2. Familiarity is a friendly, relaxed way of behaving with someone, as if you know them well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#m2)
3. (formal) Too much familiarity is behaving too casually or rudely with someone you do not know well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school, familiarity with times tables or a story helps you work faster. In everyday life, the familiarity of home makes us feel safe. The saying «Familiarity breeds contempt» means that when you know something too well you may stop respecting it. Phrases: «familiarity with», «a sense of familiarity», «familiarity breeds contempt».

### Examples

- Her familiarity with the town helped us find the café. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x1)
- Practice gives you familiarity with the times tables. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x2)
- There was a comforting familiarity about Grandma's kitchen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x3)
- The new teacher was surprised by the pupils' familiarity with her first name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x4)
- Familiarity with the rules makes the game more fun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x5)
- «Familiarity breeds contempt,» said Dad when we got bored with the toy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x6)
- The young man agreed to this proposal, but he took care not to get on terms of familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him with the apple. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/familiarity/#x7)

### Note

Usually uncountable; «familiarity with something». Adjective: familiar (familiar to someone, familiar with something). Spelling: familiar + ity.

## On Mova

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