extended family

[ik-sten-did fam-uh-lee, fam lee] / ɪkˈstɛn dɪd ˈfæm ə li, ˈfæm li /

NOUN

parents, children, and relatives

Synonyms

STRONGEST

nuclear family

WEAK

binuclear family kinship group menage ménage relations

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We did not evolve to raise children with as little extended family and community support as most American parents have now," says Dr. Barish, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026

After pestering the local council into submission, two sets of goals were hammered into a nearby patch of gravel where the McGinn brothers, extended family and friends could run wild.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

They’re also at times footing the bill for their extended family.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

He remarried when I was 12, and I spent weekends with him and his new wife in the city and idyllic summers with extended family in Illinois.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

After being sent to live with extended family, enrolled in a public school in Guerneville, California.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña