What does "kennedy" mean?
A surname from Irish.
Kennedy
/ˈkɛnədi/ name
name ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A surname from Irish.
- Grammar: kennedy is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: family name, family of politicians, jfk, last name.
- Useful contrasts: forename, given name.
- Usage evidence: Lyndon Johnson took over presidency when John Kennedy was assassinated.
How to use "kennedy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kennedy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kennedy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kennedy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kennedy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kennedy" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "family name" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kennedy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Irish.
"A study Kennedy discussed on multiple podcast episodes exposed male African clawed frogs to atrazine in a lab, castrating 75% of the male frogs and turning one in 10 males into females."
- 2 A surname from Scottish Gaelic.
- 3 A unisex given name.; A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern American usage.
- 4 A unisex given name.; A male given name transferred from the surname. rare
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Lamar County, Alabama.
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in San Joaquin County, California, United States.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Lake County, Illinois.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Clay Township, Spencer County, Indiana.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Kittson County, Minnesota.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; An extinct town in Pemiscot County, Missouri.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Cherry County, Nebraska.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; A hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Poland, Chautauqua County, New York.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; A township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in the town of Lake, Price County, Wisconsin.
- 15 A railway point and unincorporated place in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada.
- 16 A village in the Rural Municipality of Wawken No. 93, Saskatchewan, Canada.
- 17 A neighbourhood (locality) in Bogotá, Colombia.
- 18 A coastal locality in Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
forenamegiven name
Example
"Lyndon Johnson took over presidency when John Kennedy was assassinated."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kennedy"?
Common synonyms include: family name, family of politicians, jfk, last name, political dynasty, president kennedy.
How do you use "kennedy" in a sentence?
Lyndon Johnson took over presidency when John Kennedy was assassinated.
How do you pronounce "kennedy"?
Pronounced /ˈkɛnədi/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Irish Ó Cinnéidigh (ceann (“head”) + éidigh (“ugly”)) or Scottish Gaelic Ceannaideach (ceann (“head”) + aideach (“ugly”). Compare Kenneth and Irish eitigh (“refuse, reject”).