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.

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

So Ivanoff, Kristil's parents and extended family began working to change the law and save other lives.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

In effect, a band is an extended family or several related extended families.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond