nuclear family

noun

Synonyms of nuclear familynext
: a family group that consists only of parents and children

Examples of nuclear family in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Republican party has promised a return to the good ol’ days, with strong nuclear families at the crux and a fight against the declining birth rate. — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Multiple titles also chart for Millennials and the Gen Z the evolution of bedrock relations beyond those of nuclear families. — John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026 Clark came up in a traditional American nuclear family in Des Moines, Iowa with a family history defined by sports, as her grandfather was a locally famous high school football coach. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026 Consider that, according to the Center for American Progress, in 1970, 67 percent of adults (defined as 25 to 49 years old) lived in a traditional nuclear family with a spouse and one or more minor children. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nuclear family

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nuclear family was in 1924

Rhymes for nuclear family

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Browse Nearby Words

nuclear exclusion clause
nuclear family
nuclear fission
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Cite this Entry

“Nuclear family.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuclear%20family. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nuclear family

noun
: a family group that consists only of father, mother, and children

Medical Definition

nuclear family

noun
: a family group that consists only of father, mother, and children see extended family

More from Merriam-Webster on nuclear family

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nuclear family

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nuclear family

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