family

noun (SOCIAL GROUP)

/ˈfæm.əl.i/

Definition

A1 [C or U + sing/pl verb] a group of people who are related to each other, such as a mother, a father, and their children: A new family has/have moved in next door. I come from a large family - I have three brothers and two sisters. He hasn't any family. He's American but his family (= relatives in the past) come/comes from Ireland. This film is good family entertainment (= something that can be enjoyed by parents and children together). How does family life (= being married, having children, etc.) suit you?Family relations in general B1 [C usually singular, U + sing/pl verb] the children of a family: Women shouldn't have to choose between career and family (= having children). Paul and Alison are hoping to start a family (= have children) soon. My dad died when we were small so my mum raised the family on her own.Family relations in general › [C, + sing/pl verb] a pair of adult animals and their babies: We've got a family of squirrels living in our garden.Animal groupings

(Definition of family noun (SOCIAL GROUP) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)