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Glite Dictionary
next of kin

next of kin

52 3.5
A close family member to contact if someone dies or is very ill
  • noun
  • /nɛkst əv kɪn/
translation icon : familiar más cercano
  • Patients or their next of kin gave informed consent to participate in the trial.
  • patient or next of kin

I found it quite interesting for me going back just for a second to making next of kin notifications.

Examples

  • As your next of kin, I'm now in charge of your estate.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Mr Anderson listed you as next of kin.

    A Man Called Otto (2022)

  • Do you know who his next of kin is?

    Deadfall (2012)

  • Are you next of kin?

    Empire of Light (2022)

  • Do you have any next of kin still in the area?

    Positive I.D. (1986)

  • "You have to be next of kin to even request it by mail," the woman informed her.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The next of kin have already been notified.

    Cover-Up (1991)

  • I've put your name down as next of kin.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Police are in the process of finding and notifying her next of kin before releasing her identity.

    Blog text (2)

  • In case of an emergency, please make sure to inform your next of kin.

Synonyms

relative
vsnext of kin
645 1.0

A person who is in your family by blood or marriage

is the closest such person who may act as legal representative
kin
vsnext of kin
132 2.6

People who are related by blood or marriage

refers to the single closest person rather than the broader family group
kinspeople
vsnext of kin
6.2

People in your family by blood or marriage

is focused on the nearest person for legal matters rather than all family

Surface Forms

next of kin singular
next of kins plural

Morphology

next + of + kin

The sense 'the person most closely related' is directly derivable from combining 'next' (nearest) with 'of' (linking) and 'kin' (relatives), yielding 'nearest relative'. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows a standard English noun phrase structure, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the core meaning (though legal nuances might require exposure).

Etymology

Next of kin comes from the simple image of the family member who is next in line to help, where next means nearest and kin means family. So next of kin now means the person who is the closest relative to contact or to act for someone if they become very ill or die.