extended family

US: /ɪkˈstɛndɪd ˈfæməli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•tend•ed fam•i•ly /ɪkˈstɛndɪd ˈfæməli/  n. [countable]

1. Sociology a group that is related by blood or marriage, made up of a married couple, their children, and various close relatives.

See -tend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

extend′ed fam′ily, 

1. Anthropology, Sociology a kinship group consisting of a family nucleus and various relatives, as grandparents, usually living in one household and functioning as a larger unit. Cf. nuclear family.
2. Sociology (loosely) one's family conceived of as including aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and sometimes close friends and colleagues.
• 1940–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

extended family noun

1. a social unit that contains the nuclear family together with blood relatives, often spanning three or more generations