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.

The squad will be granted extended family time over the weekend in Boston, something that was not such a luxury in Germany two years ago.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

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

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Living in a “compound household” with extended family felt “oppressive” to him, and he felt more at home in New York City, his son recounts.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

As Giovanni’s mental state became less stable in recent years, Frank Perez said he and their extended family tried many avenues to get his son and grandson more help.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Once this was settled, we sat down and mentally went through our circle of acquaintances, trying to come up with a single person who would blend in well with our extended family.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank