ENGLISH
REFERENCE

families

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈfæməɫiz// UK //fˈæmɪlɪz// fam·i·lies

n. groups of people who are related to each other, such as parents and their children. You can also use this for people you feel very close to, even if you are not related by blood.

n. social units consisting of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The term is also applied to groups of objects or organisms sharing common characteristics or a common ancestor.


SIMPLE

Many families visit the park on Sundays.

CONTEXTUAL

The school organizes a special dinner every year to welcome new families to the neighborhood.

COMPLEX

Sociologists often study how different families adapt to economic shifts, noting that support networks frequently extend beyond the traditional nuclear structure to include distant relatives and close friends.

Synonyms
Usage

The plural form of 'family'. When referring to a single unit, it takes a singular verb; when referring to the members within, it may take a plural verb in British English.

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