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first family

American  

noun

  1. a family having the highest or one of the highest social ranks in a given place.

  2. (often initial capital letters) the family of the president of the U.S. or the family of the governor of a state.

  3. a family descended from a colonist or early settler in a country, region, etc..

    one of the first families of Virginia.


Etymology

Origin of first family

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The first family has made crypto a particular focus, and the president has also advanced policies to lighten regulation of the emerging sector.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 30, 2026

Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and two children will stay at royal residences during their first family trip back to the UK in four years in July, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.

From Barron's Jun. 27, 2026

In some instances, the first family has profited from the push.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 30, 2026

DIY Dad, as he is known online, started making videos while renovating his first family home in Ipswich, creating a series called Dad Showed Me.

From BBC Feb. 23, 2026

I said we were not the first family in this situation, and that those who underwent such hardships came out the stronger.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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