Difference Between
versus

Family vs. Families: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Family refers to a group related by blood, marriage, or adoption; families is the plural form, indicating more than one such group.
Family vs. Families

Key Differences

Family is a singular noun, referring to a single unit of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption. Families, the plural form, denotes more than one of these units.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
Family is used when talking about one group of related individuals. Families refers to multiple groups, often used in discussions involving broader social or demographic contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
Family often conveys a sense of unity and closeness within a single group. Families imply a diversity of structures, traditions, and dynamics across different groups.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
In a narrative, family is typically used to describe a central unit, while families can be used to contrast or compare different households or kinship structures.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
In statistics or analysis, family is used when examining a specific household, while families refer to aggregate data or trends across multiple households.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Number

Singular
Plural
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Context

Refers to one unit of related individuals
Refers to multiple such units
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Connotation

Unity and closeness within a single group
Diversity across different groups
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Usage in Narratives

Describes a central household unit
Used to contrast or compare multiple units
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Application in Analysis

Examining a specific household
Referring to trends or data across many households
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Family and Families Definitions

Family

A group of related things or people.
The violin family of musical instruments includes violas and cellos.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Families

Different households or kinship groups.
The community center offers programs for families of all sizes.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Groups of people or things with common characteristics.
The families of languages spoken in Europe are diverse.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

The children of one of these groups
She raised a large family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Families

Collections or groups of similar or related items.
The museum's exhibit showcased families of ancient pottery.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Plural of family, indicating multiple groups of related individuals.
Several families in the neighborhood collaborated on the block party.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

People in the same line of descent; lineage
Comes from an old Virginia family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Multiple taxonomic families in biology.
The exhibition featured butterflies from different families.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

(Obsolete) All the members of a household living under one roof.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

The children of one of these groups
She raised a large family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of like things; a class
The family of brass instruments.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of individuals derived from a common stock
The family of human beings.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

People in the same line of descent; lineage
Comes from an old Virginia family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(Biology) A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

(Obsolete) All the members of a household living under one roof.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(Linguistics) A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(Mathematics) A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A group of like things; a class
The family of brass instruments.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of elements with similar chemical properties.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A group of individuals derived from a common stock
The family of human beings.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A vertical column in the periodic table of elements.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

(Biology) A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(Physics) Any of the three generations of elementary fermions.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

(Linguistics) A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

Of or having to do with a family
Family problems.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

(Mathematics) A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

Being suitable for a family
Family movies.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A group of elements with similar chemical properties.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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!
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

A vertical column in the periodic table of elements.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(countable) An extended family: a group of people who are related to one another by blood or marriage.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

(Physics) Any of the three generations of elementary fermions.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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!
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Of or having to do with a family
Family problems.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(uncountable) Members of one's family collectively.
I have a lot of family in Australia.
He has a sister, but no other family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Being suitable for a family
Family movies.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Families

Inflection of family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(uncountable) Lineage, especially honorable or noble lineage.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A collection of sets, especially of subsets of a given set.
Let \mathcal F be a family of subsets over S.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of instruments having the same basic method of tone production.
The brass family;
The violin family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of languages believed to have descended from the same ancestral language.
The Indo-European language family;
The Afroasiatic language family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(slang) Homosexual.
I knew he was family when I first met him.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as, a man of family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group of kindred or closely related individuals; as, a family of languages; a family of States; the chlorine family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

Primary social group; parents and children;
He wanted to have a good job before starting a family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

People descended from a common ancestor;
His family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A collection of things sharing a common attribute;
There are two classes of detergents
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

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
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera;
Sharks belong to the fish family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A person having kinship with another or others;
He's kin
He's family
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023

Family

A group consisting of parents and children living together.
The Johnson family went on a camping trip every summer.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

All the descendants of a common ancestor.
Our family tree shows a long line of artisans.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
She considered her close friends to be part of her family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Family

A category of taxonomic classification.
Lions and tigers belong to the cat family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

How do families differ culturally?

Families vary in size, structure, and traditions across different cultures.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What is a family?

A family is a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What’s a nuclear family?

A nuclear family is a unit consisting of two parents and their children.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Is a single person considered a family?

In some contexts, a single individual can constitute a family unit.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What are families?

Families are multiple groups of individuals, each group forming a family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Can pets be considered family?

Many people consider their pets as part of their family.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

How do governments support families?

Governments provide support through policies like tax benefits and child care.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What challenges do modern families face?

Modern families face challenges like balancing work-life, technology influences, and economic pressures.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Can family include friends?

Yes, in a broader sense, family can include very close friends or community members.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

How do families celebrate traditions?

Families celebrate traditions through rituals, gatherings, and cultural practices.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

How has the concept of family evolved?

The concept of family has evolved to include diverse structures and dynamics.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What is family therapy?

Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling that helps family members improve communication and resolve conflicts.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Are families always related by blood?

No, families can also include adopted members or in-laws.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What’s an extended family?

An extended family includes relatives beyond the nuclear family, like grandparents.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Is family important for child development?

Yes, the family environment plays a crucial role in a child's development.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Can family dynamics affect mental health?

Yes, family dynamics can significantly impact an individual's mental health.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Are family values universal?

While some values are common, family values can vary greatly between cultures.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

What role do families play in education?

Families play a key role in supporting and motivating children's education.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Can families be formed through adoption?

Yes, families can be formed by adopting children.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Do families play a role in society?

Yes, families are fundamental units that contribute to the structure of society.
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 13, 2023

Share this page

Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Shumaila Saeed
Written by
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

Android TV vs. Tizen TVAndroid TV vs. Tizen TV
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 26, 2024
Android TV is a smart TV platform powered by Google's Android OS, offering extensive app compatibility, while Tizen TV is Samsung's smart TV OS, known for its smooth interface and integration with Samsung devices.
Mom vs. SonMom vs. Son
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
December 29, 2024
Mom typically refers to a female parent, emphasizing nurturing and caregiving roles, while a son is a male child of parents, highlighting familial lineage and male offspring dynamics.
Pastor vs. ReverendPastor vs. Reverend
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 23, 2024
A pastor is a religious leader of a Christian congregation, while reverend is a title used to address or refer to Christian clergy.
Million vs. BillionMillion vs. Billion
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 29, 2024
A million is 1,000,000, while a billion is 1,000,000,000; a billion is a thousand times larger than a million.
Hydroscopic vs. HygroscopicHydroscopic vs. Hygroscopic
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 14, 2024
Hydroscopic is a common misnomer, often incorrectly used in place of hygroscopic. Hygroscopic refers to substances that absorb moisture from the air.
Shriners vs. MasonsShriners vs. Masons
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 29, 2024
Shriners are a subgroup within Freemasonry known for charitable work, especially children's hospitals; Masons are members of the larger, older fraternity of Freemasonry with broader goals and activities.
Pokemon Firered vs. Pokemon LeafgreenPokemon Firered vs. Pokemon Leafgreen
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 15, 2024
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the original Pokemon games, with FireRed offering exclusive Pokemon like Growlithe and LeafGreen featuring Pokemon like Vulpix, plus minor story and area differences.
Imax 2D vs. 2DImax 2D vs. 2D
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 14, 2024
Imax 2D offers an immersive, large-scale cinematic experience with enhanced sound and image quality, whereas standard 2D provides a traditional flat-screen viewing without these enhancements.
Coordinator vs. SupervisorCoordinator vs. Supervisor
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
September 30, 2024
A coordinator aligns team tasks for efficiency, focusing on project logistics; a supervisor oversees staff performance, guiding and evaluating work.
McAfee LiveSafe vs. McAfee Total ProtectionMcAfee LiveSafe vs. McAfee Total Protection
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 22, 2024
McAfee LiveSafe offers unlimited device protection including identity, data, and personal security, while McAfee Total Protection focuses more on malware, virus defense, and internet security for limited devices.
Rescind vs. RevokeRescind vs. Revoke
Dua FatimaDua Fatima
July 10, 2024
Rescind involves officially cancelling a decision or agreement; revoke means to officially cancel the validity of something, often involving rights or licenses.
Symmetric vs. SymmetricalSymmetric vs. Symmetrical
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
December 9, 2024
Symmetric implies balance and equality in parts or arrangement, while symmetrical explicitly refers to mirror-like or harmonious proportions.
Positivism vs. Post-PositivismPositivism vs. Post-Positivism
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
May 26, 2024
Positivism emphasizes observable, empirical evidence and the scientific method, while post-positivism recognizes the limitations of pure objectivity and incorporates subjective perspectives.
Pulley vs. SheavePulley vs. Sheave
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
April 4, 2024
A pulley is a wheel on an axle designed to support movement and change of direction of a taut cable, while a sheave is the wheel part of a pulley system that specifically interacts with the cable.
ASCII vs. EBCDICASCII vs. EBCDIC
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 28, 2024
ASCII is a 7-bit character encoding standard for text; EBCDIC is an 8-bit character encoding used mainly in IBM mainframe systems.
Mercy vs. CompassionMercy vs. Compassion
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
December 18, 2024
Mercy involves leniency or forgiveness towards someone in one’s power, often not giving a punishment deserved, while compassion is the empathetic understanding and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Parish vs. CountyParish vs. County
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 26, 2024
A parish is a local church community or its jurisdiction area, whereas a county is a larger administrative division in a state or country.
NM3 vs. M3NM3 vs. M3
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
April 19, 2024
NM3 measures gas volume under Normal conditions (0°C and 1.01325 bar), while M3 measures volume under the conditions at which it is measured, without standard adjustment.
Fascism vs. DictatorshipFascism vs. Dictatorship
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
March 2, 2024
Fascism is a political ideology with authoritarian nationalism; dictatorship is a governance form with absolute power in one person or group, differing in ideology and structure.
Metrics vs. MatrixMetrics vs. Matrix
Hifza NasirHifza Nasir
October 19, 2024
Metrics refer to a system or standard of measurement, often used in evaluation and analysis, while a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns.
Ash vs. SootAsh vs. Soot
Dua FatimaDua Fatima
November 19, 2024
Ash is the residue left after combustion, mainly composed of mineral matter, while soot is a fine black powder formed by incomplete combustion of fuel.
The Atlantic vs. The New YorkerThe Atlantic vs. The New Yorker
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
February 27, 2024
The Atlantic is a magazine focusing on news, politics, and cultural commentary, while The New Yorker features a mix of reporting, commentary, criticism, fiction, and cartoons.
Broadsheet vs. TabloidBroadsheet vs. Tabloid
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
November 2, 2024
Broadsheet is a large-format newspaper focusing on serious content; Tabloid is a smaller, sensational news-focused paper.
Cocoon vs. ChrysalisCocoon vs. Chrysalis
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed
March 3, 2024
A cocoon is a protective casing spun by moths and other insects, while a chrysalis is the hard shell formed by butterfly larvae during metamorphosis.

Featured Comparisons

New Comparisons