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

She also recommended creating a caregiving plan early, involving siblings or extended family when possible, and protecting time for the marriage itself.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

Roughly four decades ago, members of the extended family made a journey in the opposite direction.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Corn, their staple crop, was stored in granaries and distributed equitably by clan mothers, the oldest woman from each extended family.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz