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 culture in the village places a lot of value on the nuclear family. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 Every audience hears about the tweets from Michigan’s William Lawrence, condemning the nuclear family, and New York’s Darializa Avila Chevalier, about how July 4 should be about the liberation of Palestine and Puerto Rico. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The traditional guardrails of nuclear family life are off, leaving Alex with a canvas that’s thrillingly, terrifyingly blank. — Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026 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 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

See All Rhymes for nuclear family

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 21 Oct. 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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