–noun
1.
a.
a basic social unit consisting of parents and theirchildren, considered as a group, whether dwellingtogether or not: the traditional family.
b.
a social unit consisting of one or more adults togetherwith the children they care for: a single-parent family.
2.
the children of one person or one couple collectively: Wewant a large family.
3.
EXPAND
the spouse and children of one person: We're taking thefamily on vacation next week.
–adjective
—Idiom
16.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a family: a family trait.
17.
belonging to or used by a family: a family automobile; afamily room.
18.
EXPAND
suitable or appropriate for adults and children: a familyamusement park.
20.
in a
/
the family way, pregnant.


Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English familie < Latin familia a household, theslaves of a household, equivalent to famul ( us ) servant, slave + -ia -y3
1350–1400; Middle English familie < Latin familia a household, theslaves of a household, equivalent to famul ( us ) servant, slave + -ia -y3
—Related forms
an·ti·fam·i·ly, adjective
in·ter·fam·i·ly, adjective
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