family circle

American  

noun

1. the closely related members of a family as a group.

2. a section in a theater containing less expensive seats, as the topmost gallery.

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family circle British  

noun

1. members of a family regarded as a closed group

2. the cheap seating area in a theatre behind or above the dress circle

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Etymology

Origin of family circle

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

The safeguarding board said it welcomed the outcome of the criminal proceedings and the justice it has provided for Roman and Morgana and their mothers, and it offered its condolences to the wider family circle.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2024

“Even though we knew that the family circumstances were challenging, we didn’t want to take him out of the family circle because they have a very close-knit family,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2022

She also felt as a caring grandmother that she needed to comfort Diana's sons in the privacy of the family circle.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2022

And, within the logic of Matisse’s art at that moment, he absolutely needed to base his nude on Marguerite, rather than on some model brought in from outside the family circle.

From New York Times • Aug. 26, 2022

I was warned emphatically to forget what he had said and, indeed, this is the first time it has been mentioned outside the family circle.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison