family
Looking for the meaning of family? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
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A group of people who are closely related to one another (by blood, marriage or adoption); kin; for example, a set of parents and their children; an immediate family.
“Our family lives in town.”
An extended family; a group of people who are related to one another by blood or marriage.
“1915, William T. Groves, A History and Genealogy of the Groves Family in America”
A (close-knit) group of people related by blood, friendship, marriage, law, or custom, especially if they live or work together.
“Our company is one big happy family.”
Lineage, especially an honorable one
A rank in the classification of organisms, below order and above genus; a taxon at that rank.
“Magnolias belong to the family Magnoliaceae.”
Any group or aggregation of things classed together as kindred or related from possessing in common characteristics which distinguish them from other things of the same order.
“Doliracetam is a drug from the racetam family.”
A group of instruments having the same basic method of tone production.
“the brass family; the violin family”
A group of languages believed to have descended from the same ancestral language.
“the Indo-European language family; the Afroasiatic language family”
Used attributively.
“For Apocynaceae, this type of flower is a family characteristic.”
Suitable for children and adults.
“It's not good for a date, it's a family restaurant.”
Conservative, traditional.
“The cultural struggle is for the survival of family values against all manner of atheistic amorality.”
Homosexual.
“I knew he was family when I first met him.”
A person belonging to a particular family; a close relative or relation.
Understanding "family"
The word **"family"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/ˈfɛm(ɘ)li/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"family"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "family" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "family" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "family" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /ˈfɛm(ɘ)li/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "family" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "family" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "family" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "family". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/ˈfɛm(ɘ)li/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "family" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
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How do I use family in a sentence?
Refer to the usage examples above to see how "family" can be used in academic and casual conversations.