ENGLISH
REFERENCE

family

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈfæməɫi// UK //fˈæmɪli// fam·i·ly General-service Slang

n. a group of people who are related to each other, such as parents and their children. It can also mean a group of things that are similar or share the same history.

n. a social unit consisting of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption; by extension, a group of related items or organisms sharing common characteristics or ancestry.


SIMPLE

I live with my family in a small house.

CONTEXTUAL

The local community center offers various programs designed to support every member of the family.

COMPLEX

While the term traditionally referred to nuclear units, modern sociological definitions of family have expanded to include diverse kinship structures and chosen support networks.

Synonyms
Usage

Countable when referring to specific units; often treated as a collective noun that can take a singular or plural verb in British English.

Idioms6 entries

© 2026 English Reference