Family: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in a broad sense to refer to people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption and live together or are connected emotionally.

• My family is going on vacation this summer.
• Family is the most important thing in the world.

Refers to all the people who live together in one home or residence, regardless of whether they are related by blood.

• There are four people in our household.
• She manages the entire household with ease.

Often used in a more formal or legal context to refer to relatives or family members, especially those not living together.

• Next of kin should be informed immediately.
• He has no surviving kin.

Commonly used to refer to members of your extended family, such as cousins, aunts, uncles, etc., not necessarily living in the same home.

• We are inviting all our relatives to the wedding.
• She has many relatives living overseas.

General context referring to a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living together or having close bonds.

• She spends the holidays with her family.
• Family is the most important thing to him.

Used to talk about the line of descent or ancestry, often in more formal or historical contexts.

• He can trace his lineage back to a famous king.
• The family prides itself on its noble lineage.

Describes a large group of families or relatives with a common ancestor, often associated with traditional societies or historical contexts.

• The clan gathered for a reunion after many years.
• He belongs to the McDonald clan.

Refers to a social division within a traditional society, often consisting of families linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties.

• The tribe held a council to make important decisions.
• They belong to an indigenous tribe living in the mountains.