extended family

[ ik-sten-did fam-uh-lee, fam lee ]

noun

1. a kinship group consisting of a family nucleus and various relatives, as grandparents, usually living in one household and functioning as a larger unit. Compare immediate family ( def ), nuclear family ( def ).
2. (loosely) one's family conceived of as including aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and sometimes close friends and colleagues.

extended family

noun

1. sociol anthropol a social unit that contains the nuclear family together with blood relatives, often spanning three or more generations

extended family

1. A type of family in which relatives in addition to parents and children (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) live in a single household. A nuclear family forms the core of an extended family.

Word History and Origins

Origin of extended family¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

He is survived by his wife, Linda, four children, seven grandchildren and extended family.

From Los Angeles Times

Nigerian farmer Mustapha Majiya is still reeling from losing almost 50 members of his extended family this week after an overturned fuel tanker exploded, sending flames up into a night sky.

From BBC

A neighbour found it “unusual” that Sara was the only member of her large extended family that lived at the address to be dressed in a hijab, the Old Bailey heard.

From BBC

If Mr Oualy survives the journey, he hopes to make a living to take care of his extended family, but he is keeping his plans secret to avoid worrying them.

From BBC

"We really appreciate that they kept us posted all these years," he says, adding that many other members of the extended family had joined the armed forces even after Cherian's disappearance.

From BBC

Related Words

• nuclear family