family reunion
B1Neutral to informal. Common in everyday speech and descriptive writing.
Definition
Meaning
A gathering of family members, especially those who live apart, for the purpose of spending time together and reconnecting.
Any organized event or occasion where members of an extended family meet. Can also metaphorically describe the coming together of related ideas, objects, or groups.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with positive emotions, tradition, and celebration. Often implies infrequency and deliberate planning. The scale can range from an immediate nuclear family to a large multi-generational event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical. 'Reunion' is equally common in both varieties. The event type may be more culturally prominent and frequent in some regions of the US.
Connotations
Neutral-positive in both. Slight cultural association with large, organised summer events in the US, while in the UK it might more often refer to smaller, periodic gatherings.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to cultural emphasis.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + family reunion: have, hold, host, plan, attend, miss[Adjective] + family reunion: annual, big, small, upcoming, virtualVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All in the family”
- “Like one big happy family (often used ironically post-reunion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically for a merger of related companies or departments.
Academic
Rare, in sociological or anthropological studies of kinship.
Everyday
Very common, used to describe planned social events with relatives.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We reunion every few years at my grandparents' house in Yorkshire. (informal, rare)
American English
- The Smiths will reunion for the 4th of July barbecue. (informal, rare)
adjective
British English
- The family-reunion photos were a bit blurry.
- We booked a family-reunion venue.
American English
- She wore her family-reunion T-shirt.
- The family-reunion potluck is on Saturday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have a big family reunion every summer.
- I saw my cousins at the family reunion.
- They're planning a family reunion for my grandmother's birthday.
- It was lovely to catch up with everyone at the family reunion.
- The annual family reunion, a tradition dating back fifty years, is always held at the lakeside cabin.
- Organising a family reunion for such a dispersed clan requires meticulous planning.
- The pandemic forced us to hold a virtual family reunion via video conference, an experience that was poignant yet technologically fraught.
- For many in the diaspora, the family reunion serves as a vital link to cultural heritage and shared memory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RE-UNION' – a 'union' or 'coming together' that happens again ('RE-'). So, a FAMILY REUNION is the family coming together again.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A WHOLE MADE OF PARTS (that can be reassembled). REUNION IS REASSEMBLY/RECONNECTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'семейное воссоединение', which implies immigration/legal process. Use 'семейная встреча' or 'сбор семьи'.
- Do not confuse with 'воссоединение семьи' which is a formal legal term.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'family reunification' (legal/formal term). Correct: 'family reunion'.
- Incorrect article: 'a family reunion' (countable).
- Spelling: 'reunion' (one word).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a strong collocation for 'family reunion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a fixed compound noun. It is typically written as two separate words, not hyphenated, except when used attributively (e.g., 'a family-reunion picnic').
A 'family reunion' specifically implies a gathering of family members who do not regularly see each other, often from different locations and generations. A 'family gathering' is a broader term that can include regular, small meetings (like a weekly dinner).
It can, but it's less common. The term typically carries the connotation of an extended family. For a nuclear family that lives apart (e.g., parents and adult children), 'get-together' or simply 'visit' is more typical.
The stress is on the final syllable: /riːˈjuː.njən/. A common error is to stress the first syllable (/ˈriː.juː.njən/), which is incorrect for the standard pronunciation.