family resemblance
The term 'family resemblance' can refer to both physical similarities among relatives and a philosophical concept describing overlapping similarities within a group.
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Definition
B2Sociology
(general)A set of shared physical characteristics among relatives, making them appear similar.
Example
- The family resemblance between the siblings was striking, with all of them having the same blue eyes and curly hair.
C1Philosophy
(technical, academic)A concept where members of a group share overlapping similarities without a single defining feature.
Example
- Wittgenstein used the idea of family resemblance to explain how different games share common traits but no single feature is common to all.