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.

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

It feels a little like a reunion, with everyone a part of the extended family.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

The land on which the Methodist church now stands was donated by members of the same extended family connected to the tree.

From BBC • May 2, 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

The plan was that he would eventually bring as many members of his extended family as possible to the United States.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John