official family
LowFormal, Political
Definition
Meaning
In Canada and some Commonwealth contexts, the group of political advisors and ministers, often including their immediate family members, appointed by the Prime Minister or Premier.
The term can extend more generally, though less commonly, to refer to the close, trusted circle of appointed senior officials around a head of government or head of state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a term of art in Canadian political discourse; not typically used in a literal sense to mean one's actual family. It denotes the official, institutional 'household' of a leader.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not used in American English. In British English, similar concepts are described with terms like 'Prime Minister's Office', 'Cabinet', or 'No. 10'. 'Official family' is a Canadianism, though it may be understood in other Commonwealth nations.
Connotations
Carries connotations of formal, state-sanctioned roles and a quasi-familial, collective responsibility within government.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in Canadian news media, parliamentary proceedings, and political commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Prime Minister's/Premier's] official familyjoin the official familyappoint to the official familyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A reshuffle of the official family”
- “To be welcomed into the official family”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in political science, particularly in studies of Canadian governance and prime ministerial power.
Everyday
Very rare; only in contexts discussing Canadian politics.
Technical
Term of art in constitutional and parliamentary procedure in Canada.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The official-family appointments were announced today.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Prime Minister will choose his official family after the election.
- Several new faces were welcomed into the Premier's official family following the cabinet shuffle.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Prime Minister's 'official' work 'family' – not relatives, but the team sworn in to govern.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A HOUSEHOLD (The leader's appointed team is metaphorically their family).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'официальная семья' which would imply a literal family. Use 'кабинет министров', 'правительство', or 'ближайшее окружение премьера'.
- The term is institutional, not personal.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to the leader's actual spouse and children.
- Assuming it is a common phrase outside of specific political contexts.
- Confusing it with 'First Family' (US term for the President's kin).
Practice
Quiz
Where is the term 'official family' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It refers specifically to their appointed political team, such as ministers and senior advisors.
No. The UK uses terms like 'Cabinet', 'Ministry', or 'the Government' to express a similar concept.
It is theoretically possible by analogy, but it is highly unconventional. The term is strongly tied to national or provincial (state) leadership in Canada.
The 'Cabinet' (e.g., the President's Cabinet). However, the American 'Cabinet' does not carry the same metaphorical 'family' connotation.
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