first family: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, historical, political
Quick answer
What does “first family” mean?
The family of the current president or leader of a country, considered as a prominent public unit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The family of the current president or leader of a country, considered as a prominent public unit.
The most prominent or leading family within a specific field, organisation, or community; a family of great historical importance or influence in a particular context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept is more culturally embedded in American English due to the prominence of the US Presidency. In British English, 'Royal Family' is the analogous, more frequent term for the sovereign's family.
Connotations
In American English, it carries connotations of public scrutiny, ceremonial duties, and a specific White House lifestyle. In British contexts, it may sound like a direct Americanism.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English. Rare in everyday British English outside of discussions of US politics or as a metaphorical extension.
Grammar
How to Use “first family” in a Sentence
[The] First Family + [of + country/organisation]the first family + [of + field/industry]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first family” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The press will inevitably first-family the new PM's relatives, scrutinising their every move.
- (Note: Very rare, non-standard verbification)
American English
- The media tends to first-family any new administration, focusing intensely on their domestic life.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- They faced first-family level security protocols during the state visit.
- (Note: Attributive use, hyphenated)
American English
- The First Family quarters are located in the White House residence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically: 'The founder's descendants are considered the first family of the automotive industry.'
Academic
Used in political science, history, and media studies to discuss the public/private lives of leaders and symbolic national representation.
Everyday
Mainly in news reports: 'The First Family spent the holidays at Camp David.'
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first family”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first family”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first family”
- Using lowercase when referring to a specific national leader's family (e.g., 'the first family' instead of 'the First Family').
- Using it to mean 'my first family' (i.e., family of origin) which is incorrect.
- Overusing the extended metaphorical sense, making it sound clichéd.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when it is the official term for a specific leader's family (e.g., 'the British Prime Minister and his family' not '*the British First Family').
Yes, metaphorically. You can say 'the first family of jazz' (the most prominent/influential family in jazz) or 'the first family of a company' (the founding family). In these cases, it's often not capitalised.
'Royal Family' refers to a hereditary monarchy (kings, queens). 'First Family' typically refers to the family of an elected head of state (like a president) and does not imply hereditary rule.
Typically, it refers to the leader's immediate family (spouse and children) living with them or playing a public role. Extended family are usually mentioned separately if they become part of the public narrative.
The family of the current president or leader of a country, considered as a prominent public unit.
First family is usually formal, journalistic, historical, political in register.
First family: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈfæm.əl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˈfæm.əl.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms, but the term itself is a fixed compound]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The 'FIRST' person in the country (the President) + their FAMILY = the FIRST FAMILY.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION IS A FAMILY (with the leader as the symbolic parent). A PROMINENT GROUP IS A ROYAL/PRESIDENTIAL FAMILY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'first family' LEAST likely to be used correctly?