帮助中心

family

[ˈfæməli]

family Definition

  • 1a group consisting of one or two parents and their children
  • 2all the descendants of a common ancestor
  • 3a group of people related by blood or marriage

Using family: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "family" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    My family is going on vacation next week.

  • Example

    She comes from a large family with many siblings.

  • Example

    Family is the most important thing in his life.

  • Example

    We had a family reunion last weekend.

family Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for family

Antonyms for family

  • strangers
  • outsiders

Idioms Using family

  • pregnant

    Example

    She's in the family way and due in a few months.

  • a person who is considered a disgrace to a family or group

    Example

    He was always the black sheep of the family, getting into trouble and causing problems.

  • to have children and begin a family

    Example

    They got married and started a family soon after.

Phrases with family

  • a family unit consisting of parents and their children

    Example

    The nuclear family is often portrayed as the ideal family structure.

  • a family unit consisting of parents, their children, and other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins

    Example

    In some cultures, the extended family lives together in the same household.

  • a diagram showing the relationships between members of a family over several generations

    Example

    I traced my family tree back to the 18th century.

Origins of family

from Latin 'familia', meaning 'household servants, household, family', from 'famulus', meaning 'servant'

📌

Summary: family in Brief

The term 'family' [ˈfæməli] refers to a group of people related by blood or marriage, typically consisting of one or two parents and their children. It can also refer to all the descendants of a common ancestor. The concept of family extends into phrases like 'nuclear family,' and idioms like 'black sheep of the family.' 'Family' is often used to describe the most important people in one's life.

How do native speakers use this expression?