Family Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

family

1 of 2

noun

fam·​i·​ly ˈfam-lē How to pronounce family (audio)
ˈfa-mə-
plural families
1
a
: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children
also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family
a single-parent family
b
: spouse and children
want to spend more time with my family
2
: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household
3
a
: a group of persons of common ancestry : clan
b
: a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock
4
a
: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship
b
: the staff of a high official (such as the President)
5
: a group of things related by common characteristics: such as
a
: a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds
b
: a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (such as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification
c
: a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
6
a
: a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera
b in livestock breeding
(1)
: the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female
(2)
: an identifiable strain within a breed
7
: a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
8
: a unit of a crime syndicate (such as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area
familyhood noun

family

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to a family (see family entry 1)
2
: designed or suitable for both children and adults
family restaurants
family movies

Did you know?

What is a family?

The answer to the question “what does family mean?” is both difficult to answer and highly subjective. The word has shifted its meaning considerably since it entered our language, currently contains many different senses, and in at least one of these senses may signify different things to different people. The earliest uses of family denoted “a group of persons in the service of an individual,” a sense that is now archaic. Although this early meaning may seem far afield from the way that most of us use family today, it is not surprising when we consider that the word comes from the Latin familia, which meant “household,” a designation that included both servants and relatives.

In modern use family may refer to one of a number of different groups of people or things collectively, such as chemical compounds, related languages, plants and animals, and people who may or may not share ancestry. Family is often encountered in legal use, but even within the jargon of the law it is not restricted to a single meaning. In many legal contexts family denotes “individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption,” but in others the definition may be somewhat broader, encompassing groups of individuals not related by these things.

Examples of family in a Sentence

Noun The disappearance of decent-paying low-skilled jobs over the last 30 years makes it virtually impossible for a young high-school dropout to successfully support a family on a legitimate income. Karen De Witt, Essence, August 1994
A defendant in a racketeering trial was described yesterday as a Mafia captain who had carried out a plot to kill three rivals in the Bonanno crime family. Arnold H. Lubasch, New York Times, 30 Apr. 1987
Nobody ever came to the farm—through "the big gate," a mile off on the pike—except kin and a family named Rawls: a widow with two daughters and a son, my only playmate. Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980
It was quite an understood thing in the family that Lord Fawn must marry money. Anthony Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1871
There were a lot of families at the circus. The show is fun for the whole family. a death in the family There are several doctors on his mother's side of the family. She wants to spend more time with her family. After his father's death he became the head of the family. She's a friend of the family. He spent a quiet evening at home with family. trying to find a balance between work and family He's devoted to his wife and family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Giving to charity was the prime motivation for 13-year-old Josh Price, who traveled with his family from Wisconsin specifically for The Great Cut event. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 Based on the second half of Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 novel, the story continues the mythic quest of Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, who seeks safety in the desert after powerful royals betray his family. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024 See the announcement from Harley’s family about his passing on X below. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2024 Eight of this year’s homicides have been domestic-related — four involving people in past or current relationships and four involving family members such as the murder-suicide of a stepfather and girl. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Three other family members who were in the home, including one minor, successfully hid from Gordon during the attack, according to Schorn. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Seeking to secure his family’s future, Monson left for Minnesota to rebuild the program after a scandal involving coach Clem Haskins but reached only one NCAA tournament in parts of eight seasons with the Golden Gophers. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 That sergeant, as ABC News has reported, had a brief conversation with Card's brother, who assured him the family would work to remove Card's guns. Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2024 Even Cox, who has established seminal case law in California on behalf of parents and families, questioned Santa Clara County’s deference to parents’ rights. Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024
Adjective
New York Mortgage Trust invests in single family and multi-family assets, and is market capitalized at $637 million. John Navin, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Residents of East Palestine concerned about home values Taken together, the value of all residential real estate in the town adds up to about $380 million, including single family homes and multi-family properties. Andrea Cambron, CNN, 11 May 2023 The costs of running a single family office aren’t insignificant, especially as greater needs require larger teams to deliver, with one side-effect being that multi-family offices have gained momentum in recent decades and new alternatives have started to emerge. Francois Botha, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023 The development at 105 S. Forest Ave. would include seven buildings with a total of 106 multi-family units and a separate, central amenities building with an outdoor pool, clubhouse and expansive patio, according to city documents. Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2023 However, multi-family unit permit applications rose 2.8%, suggesting builders are preparing to capitalize on the hot rental market. Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 More than 500 multi-family residential units, 60,000 square feet of retail space, a parking garage, parks, boardwalks, riverwalks, an amphitheater. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022 Waterway Wines has received site plan approval to develop a mixed-use project including a retail wine store, wine tasting room, restaurant and four multi-family units at 2301 E. 2nd St., in Gulf Shores, according to city planning. Kathy Jumper, al, 29 May 2022 Continental Properties is proposing 149 built-for-rent single- and multi-family housing units on 23 acres near the same area of the future redesigned Wolf’s Crossing Road and Douglas Road intersection in unincorporated Kendall County near Oswego. Linda Girardi, chicagotribune.com, 27 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'family.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English familie, from Latin familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), from famulus servant

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of family was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near family

Cite this Entry

“Family.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family. Accessed 27 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

family

noun
fam·​i·​ly
ˈfam-(ə-)lē
plural families
1
: a group of individuals living under one roof and under one head
2
: a group of persons who come from the same ancestor
3
: a group of things having common characteristics
especially : a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds
4
a
: a social group composed of one or two parents and their children
b
: a social group different from but considered equal to the traditional family
5
: a group of related plants or animals ranking in biological classification above a genus and below an order

Medical Definition

family

noun
fam·​i·​ly ˈfam-(ə-)lē How to pronounce family (audio)
plural families
1
: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children
also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family
a single-parent family
2
: a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera
family adjective

Legal Definition

family

noun
fam·​i·​ly ˈfam-lē, ˈfa-mə- How to pronounce family (audio)
plural families
1
: a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption
2
: a group of usually related individuals who live together under common household authority and especially who have reciprocal duties to each other

Note: The interpretation of the word family in a law context depends upon the area of the law concerned (as contract or zoning law), the purpose of the document (as a statute or contract) in which it is used, and the facts of the case. Often for zoning purposes, the occupants of a group home are considered a family if the organization is like that of a family or if the home is going to be a permanent rather than a transitional residence for the occupants.

familial adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on family

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