English

Noun

joint family ‎(plural joint families)

1. (India) A household consisting of two or more closely-related nuclear families, such as two or more brothers along with their wives and children, or multiple generations along with spouses.
   • 2010 Oct. 3, "Breakdown of joint family taking toll on elders ," New Indian Express (retrieved 17 May 2015):

     Earlier when joint family was the norm, children used to find time to look after their parents.

   • 2011 Nov. 5, "Most annoying bedroom habits," India Times (retrieved 17 May 2015):

     But since we live in a joint family with my in-laws in the adjacent bedrooms, we usually keep the volume of television a little high to restrict the sounds.

   • 2015 April 15, Payal Dighe Karkhanis, "Living in a joint family makes one rethink the idea of choice and responsibility," Hindustan Times (retrieved 17 May 2015):

     Growing up in a household of 10-11 people – parents, aunts, uncles all under the same roof – I loved the concept of a joint family.

Synonyms

• joint household

See also

• extended family