Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Family: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：immediate family (family)

family 🔊

/ˈfæməli/

The group of people you live with and are most closely related to, like parents and children.

Family definition illustrated by a diverse, happy group relaxing together in a cozy living room.

immediate family 🔊

➕

/ɪˈmiːdiət ˈfæməli/

The basic social unit consisting of parents and their children living together, bound by blood or legal ties.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'familia' (household, servants), derived from 'famulus' (servant).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'FAM' as a tight circle: Father And Mother, plus you — all in one team.

📖 Example

Every Sunday, our whole family gets together for a big dinner and movie night. 🔊 Every Sunday, our whole family gets together for a big dinner and movie night.

🔗 Collocations

family bond – The emotional connection among family members

family reunion – A gathering of relatives after a long separation

family values – Moral and ethical principles taught within a family

🔄 Synonyms

household (n.) – All the people living in a single dwelling, often a family

kin (n.) – One's relatives collectively

relatives (n.) – Blood or legal connections such as parents, siblings, aunts

🚫 Antonyms

strangers (n.) – People not known or related to one

enemies (n.) – People who actively oppose or are hostile to another

outsiders (n.) – Individuals not belonging to a particular group or family

🌱 Derivatives

familial (adj.) – Relating to or characteristic of a family

familiar (adj.) – Well known from long or close association

family-oriented (adj.) – Placing high value on family life

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'familia', which referred to all members of a household including servants. In modern English, it primarily means a group of related individuals living together.

Meaning 2：close-knit group (family)

family 🔊

/ˈfæməli/

A group of people who are very close and supportive, like close friends or teammates, even if they are not related.

close-knit group 🔊

➕

/ˈkloʊs nɪt ɡruːp/

A group of people who share strong emotional ties, mutual support, and a sense of belonging, often as close as blood relatives.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After working together on the project for six months, our team felt more like a family than just co-workers. 🔊 After working together on the project for six months, our team felt more like a family than just co-workers.

🔗 Collocations

work family – Colleagues who become like a family through close collaboration

chosen family – Friends or loved ones considered as family by choice, not blood

family feeling – A sense of closeness and loyalty among a group

🔄 Synonyms

clan (n.) – A close-knit group of people united by common interests or origins

tribe (n.) – A social group sharing strong bonds and a common culture

inner circle (n.) – A small, exclusive group of trusted confidants

🚫 Antonyms

outsiders (n.) – Individuals not part of a particular close group

strangers (n.) – People with whom one has no emotional connection

isolates (n.) – People who remain separate from any group

🌱 Derivatives

family-like (adj.) – Resembling the affectionate and supportive nature of a family

familial (adj.) – Characteristic of a family, often used metaphorically

familyhood (n.) – The state or quality of being a family