Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

nuclear family

noun [C]
 
 
specialized

Definition

a family consisting of two parents and their children, but not including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. → Compare extended familyFamily relations in general
(Definition of nuclear family noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“nuclear family” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More