extended family
noun
: a family that includes in one household near relatives (such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles) in addition to a nuclear family
Given space, there are ways in which even larger populations than the extended family can be accommodated under one roof.—
Paul Oliver
Paul Oliver
also
: an extensive group of people who are related by blood or marriage or who otherwise regard themselves as a large family
Four out of every five people who go through a first divorce remarry … . Thus it is that husbands and wives, their former partners, children and stepchildren, and a whole constellation of grandparents and other relatives are brought together in the new American extended family. —Michael Norman
Michael Norman During his five years at Owen High, he turned his teams into an extended family and tried to instill in his players the same sense of self-worth that Baldwin had imparted to him years before. —William Nack
William Nack Examples of extended family in a Sentence
their extended family includes a grandmother and widowed aunt
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the past decade, the house has served as a gathering place for the Splinters’ extended family.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
If grandparents aren’t available If grandparents aren't available for whatever reason, Farina recommends considering calling on extended family such as aunts, uncles and cousins to build a sense of community for your children.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026
In the family statement, Dewey was described as a wife, mother, grandmother and sister with a large extended family all over the world.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
In some cases, children whose parents were deported remained in the U.S. with a parent who had not been deported or with extended family.
—Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extended family
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Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
If grandparents aren’t available If grandparents aren't available for whatever reason, Farina recommends considering calling on extended family such as aunts, uncles and cousins to build a sense of community for your children.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026
In the family statement, Dewey was described as a wife, mother, grandmother and sister with a large extended family all over the world.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
In some cases, children whose parents were deported remained in the U.S. with a parent who had not been deported or with extended family.
—Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extended family
Cite this Entry
“Extended family.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extended%20family. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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