family

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   people descended from a common ancestor

   Our family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower.

2. 2
   noun

   a social unit living together

   They moved their family to Virginia.

3. 3
   noun

   (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera

   sharks belong to the fish family

4. 4
   noun

   an association of people who share common beliefs or activities

   the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family

5. 5
   noun

   A group of people who are closely related to one another (by blood, marriage or adoption); kin; in particular, a set of parents and their children; an immediate family.

   Our family lives in town.

6. 6
   noun

   A nuclear family: a mother and father who are married and cohabiting and their child or children.

   The cultural struggle is for the survival of family values against all manner of atheistic amorality.

7. 7
   noun

   Members of one's family collectively.

   I have a lot of family in Australia.

8. 8
   noun

   A (close-knit) group of people related by blood, friendship, marriage, law, or custom, especially if they live or work together.

   crime family, Mafia family

Etymology

From Late Middle English famylye, from Latin familia (“a household”). Displaced native Old English hīred. Doublet of familia.