An extended family is a family group which includes relatives such as uncles, aunts, and grandparents, as well as parents, children, and brothers and sisters.
Young mothers in such a community have the support of their extended family.
extended family in British English
noun
sociology, anthropology
a social unit that contains the nuclear family together with blood relatives, often spanning three or more generations
extended family in American English
US
a nuclear family together with other relatives living with them or nearby
Examples of 'extended family' in a sentence
extended family
This funky house is ideal for two families or an extended family holidaying together.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The four then lived together in an extended family household.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
The extended family huddled together for warmth at night.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is really just another example of how small groups become like extended family.
Christianity Today (2000)
You find there has been a definite change from the extended family to the nuclear family.
Butt, Gerald A Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
We used to live in extended families with support from others but our relationships have changed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This may be something that you, your husband and daughters need to accept to keep the family and extended family together.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Such finds are controversial because they undermine a core academic belief about human history: that people prefer cohesive extended family groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Labour said that it wanted to support the entire extended family and help it to cope with the challenges of modern life, including divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
extended family
British English: extended family NOUN
An extended family is a family group which includes relatives such as uncles, aunts, and grandparents, as well as parents, children, and brothers and sisters.
The pregnant woman in such a community has the support of all the womenfolk in her extended family.