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

But it’s not just for mourning or nostalgia: The revelations held in cataloged graves have proven vital for everyone ranging from historians to journalists to your aunt who is really into your extended family’s history.

From Slate

However, her extended family in Luton started raising awareness of Shamiam’s story in the UK, and enough money was raised, with the support of the Muslim Hands charity, to bring her to the Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, which has a specialist burns unit.

From BBC

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

Related Words

• nuclear family