akin

adjective

ə-ˈkin 

1

: related by blood : descended from a common ancestor or prototype

The dog and fox are closely akin.

2

: essentially similar, related, or compatible

His interests are akin to mine.

Synonyms of akin

• related
• comparable

Examples of akin in a Sentence

The two languages are closely akin.

foxes are closely akin to dogs

Recent Examples on the Web

Downstairs, take your shoes off before entering a dark room akin to a museum film screening. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Reflecting on this continuity, Bi explains it as something akin to cinema itself. —Rino Lu, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026

Gulf Arab nations, chief among them the United Arab Emirates, have decried Iran’s control of the strait as akin to piracy. —Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Having a singer as gifted as Kidjo electronically process her deeply expressive voice by singing through Auto-Tune is akin to asking Meryl Streep or Colman Domingo to act while covered in electrical tape. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 1 + kin entry 1

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for akin

• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin
• puffin

Kids Definition

akin

adjective

ə-ˈkin 

1

: related by blood

2

: essentially similar or related