Definition

Noun: 1. A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, typically living together and functioning as a single household: This is the core social unit in society, most commonly consisting of parents and their children. 2. The fundamental social and economic unit of society: It refers to the basic structure responsible for the care, upbringing, and socialization of children, as well as mutual support among its members.

Usage and Examples

• As the subject of a sentence:
  • The family unit has changed significantly over the past century.
  • A strong family unit provides emotional security for children.
• As the object of a sentence:
  • The policy aims to support the traditional family unit.
  • They decided to start a family unit of their own.
• With possessive forms or modifiers:
  • The stability of the family unit is important.
  • They come from a close-knit family unit.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in sociological, legal, and policy contexts to discuss the structure and function of families in society.
• It can be contrasted with terms like "extended family" (which includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) or "household" (which may include unrelated people).

Variants and Related Words

• Family (n): A more general term for a group of related individuals. While often used interchangeably with "family unit," "family" can also refer to extended family or all relatives.
• Nuclear family (n): A specific type of family unit consisting of two parents and their children.
• Household (n): All the people who live in a single residence, which may or may not constitute a family unit.

Synonyms

• Nuclear family (when referring to parents and children)
• Immediate family
• Household (in contexts where it is synonymous with a cohabiting family)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• To start a family: An idiom meaning to have one's first child, thereby establishing a new family unit.
  • Example: They want to buy a house before they start a family.
• Family structure: A phrase referring to the composition and membership of a family unit.
• Family values: Principles and beliefs traditionally associated with a family unit.

Noun

1. primary social group; parents and children
   • he wanted to have a good job before starting a family