![](http://www.ngmcfasthealth.com/images1/shim.gif)
fam·i·ly
n, pl -lies 1 : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their own or adopted children : also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family <a single-parent > 2 : a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usu. comprising several to many genera family adj
![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/hstres.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/f.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/a.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/m.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/dash.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/leftpar.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/schwa.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/dash.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/rightpar.gif) ![](http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/glyph/l.gif)
Similar sounding terms: female
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. © 1997-2024.
|
![](http://www.ngmcfasthealth.com/images1/shim.gif) |
![](http://www.ngmcfasthealth.com/images1/shim.gif)
![](http://www.ngmcfasthealth.com/pimages/h_ngmc_ga120x90.gif)
![](http://www.fasthealth.com/pimages/fhai120x90.gif) |