Family vs. Families — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
Family refers to a single unit of related individuals, while Families is the plural form, indicating multiple such units.
Difference Between Family and Families
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Family is a noun that denotes a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption. It is singular in form and refers to one such group. Families, on the other hand, is the plural form of "family" and refers to multiple groups of related individuals. Both terms are crucial in discussions about social structures and relationships.
The word Family often serves as a cornerstone for individuals, providing emotional and physical support. Families, in the broader context, serve as foundational units in society, collectively influencing community norms and values.
In grammar, Family follows singular verb forms and singular pronouns like "it" or "its." For example, "The family is going on a vacation." Conversely, Families follows plural verb forms and plural pronouns like "they" or "their." For instance, "The families are gathering for a reunion."
When talking about Family, we often think of immediate relations such as parents and siblings. Families can represent a broader range, including extended relations, and even several immediate families connected through marriage or other ties.
Comparison Chart
Number
Singular
Plural
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Verb Agreement
Singular verbs
Plural verbs
Pronoun Compatibility
It, Its
They, Their
Example Sentence
The family eats.
The families eat.
Societal Role
One social unit
Multiple social units
Compare with Definitions
Family
In human society, family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of families is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society.
Families
Plural of family, referring to multiple groups of related individuals.
Several families live in our neighborhood.
Family
A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
Families
Various basic social units consisting of parents and their offspring.
Families are important for community development.
Family
The children of one of these groups
She raised a large family.
Families
Groups with shared values, beliefs, or characteristics, in the plural.
There are many different families within our religious community.
Family
A group of persons related by descent or marriage
My whole family, including my cousins, gets together once a year. See Usage Note at collective noun.
Families
All the descendants of several common ancestors.
The families share a common heritage.
Family
People in the same line of descent; lineage
Comes from an old Virginia family.
Families
A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
Family
(Obsolete) All the members of a household living under one roof.
Families
The children of one of these groups
She raised a large family.
Family
A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra.
Families
A group of persons related by descent or marriage
My whole family, including my cousins, gets together once a year. See Usage Note at collective noun.
Family
A group of like things; a class
The family of brass instruments.
Families
People in the same line of descent; lineage
Comes from an old Virginia family.
Family
A group of individuals derived from a common stock
The family of human beings.
Families
(Obsolete) All the members of a household living under one roof.
Family
(Biology) A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera.
Families
A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra.
Family
(Linguistics) A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family.
Families
A group of like things; a class
The family of brass instruments.
Family
(Mathematics) A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation.
Families
A group of individuals derived from a common stock
The family of human beings.
Family
A group of elements with similar chemical properties.
Families
(Biology) A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera.
Family
A vertical column in the periodic table of elements.
Families
(Linguistics) A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family.
Family
(Physics) Any of the three generations of elementary fermions.
Families
(Mathematics) A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation.
Family
Of or having to do with a family
Family problems.
Families
A group of elements with similar chemical properties.
Family
Being suitable for a family
Family movies.
Families
A vertical column in the periodic table of elements.
Family
(countable) A group of people who are closely related to one another (by blood, marriage or adoption); kin; in particular, a set of parents and their children; an immediate family.
Our family lives in town.
This is a family restaurant, stop making out!
Families
(Physics) Any of the three generations of elementary fermions.
Family
(countable) An extended family: a group of people who are related to one another by blood or marriage.
Families
Of or having to do with a family
Family problems.
Family
(countable) A nuclear family: a mother and father who are married and cohabiting and their child or children.
The cultural struggle is for the survival of family values against all manner of atheistic amorality.
We must preserve the family unit if we want to save civilisation!
Families
Being suitable for a family
Family movies.
Family
(uncountable) Members of one's family collectively.
I have a lot of family in Australia.
He has a sister, but no other family.
Families
Inflection of family
Family
(countable) A (close-knit) group of people related by blood, friendship, marriage, law, or custom, especially if they live or work together.
Crime family, Mafia family
This is my fraternity family at the university.
Our company is one big happy family.
Families
Multiple units of parents and their children.
The families went on a group picnic.
Family
(uncountable) Lineage, especially honorable or noble lineage.
Family
A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below order and above genus; a taxon at that rank.
Magnolias belong to the family Magnoliaceae.
Family
(countable) Any group or aggregation of things classed together as kindred or related from possessing in common characteristics which distinguish them from other things of the same order.
Doliracetam is a drug from the racetam family.
Family
A collection of sets, especially of subsets of a given set.
Let be a family of subsets over .
Family
A group of instruments having the same basic method of tone production.
The brass family;
The violin family
Family
A group of languages believed to have descended from the same ancestral language.
The Indo-European language family;
The Afroasiatic language family
Family
Suitable for children and adults.
It's not good for a date, it's a family restaurant.
Some animated movies are not just for kids, they are family movies.
Family
(slang) Homosexual.
I knew he was family when I first met him.
Family
The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.
Family
The group comprising a husband and wife and their dependent children, constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of society.
The welfare of the family underlies the welfare of society.
Family
Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe, clan, or race; kindred; house; as, the human family; the family of Abraham; the father of a family.
Go ! and pretend your family is young.
Family
Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage.
Family
Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as, a man of family.
Family
A group of kindred or closely related individuals; as, a family of languages; a family of States; the chlorine family.
Family
A group of organisms, either animal or vegetable, related by certain points of resemblance in structure or development, more comprehensive than a genus, because it is usually based on fewer or less pronounced points of likeness. In Zoology a family is less comprehesive than an order; in botany it is often considered the same thing as an order.
Family
A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home
Family
Primary social group; parents and children;
He wanted to have a good job before starting a family
Family
People descended from a common ancestor;
His family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower
Family
A collection of things sharing a common attribute;
There are two classes of detergents
Family
An association of people who share common beliefs or activities;
The message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family
The church welcomed new members into its fellowship
Family
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera;
Sharks belong to the fish family
Family
A person having kinship with another or others;
He's kin
He's family
Family
A loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
Family
A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
My family celebrates holidays together.
Family
A collective term for parents and their children.
The family took a trip to Disneyland.
Family
The basic unit in society traditionally consisting of parents and children.
Family is important for social cohesion.
Family
A group with shared values, beliefs, or characteristics.
We are a family of artists.
Family
All the descendants of a common ancestor.
The entire family gathers for reunions.
Common Curiosities
How do you use Family in a sentence?
"My family is going on a trip next month."
What are Families?
Families is the plural form of family, indicating multiple such groups.
What is Family?
Family refers to a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
How do you use Families in a sentence?
"Many families gather in the park on weekends."
Is Families singular or plural?
Families is plural.
Which verb form goes with Family?
Singular verbs go with Family, like "is" or "eats."
Is Family singular or plural?
Family is singular.
What pronouns are compatible with Families?
"They" and "their" are compatible with Families.
What is an example of Families in a societal context?
Families collectively influence community norms and values.
Can Families refer to a single unit?
No, Families inherently means multiple units.
What is an example of Family in a societal context?
Family serves as a basic unit in society for emotional and financial support.
Can Family refer to a single individual?
Typically no, Family usually implies a group of people.
Which verb form goes with Families?
Plural verbs go with Families, like "are" or "eat."
What pronouns are compatible with Family?
"It" and "its" are compatible with Family.
Can Family and Families be used interchangeably?
No, Family is singular and Families is plural, so they are not interchangeable.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
