first family
Americannoun
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a family having the highest or one of the highest social ranks in a given place.
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(often initial capital letters) the family of the president of the U.S. or the family of the governor of a state.
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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.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema also shared his condolences, saying that they "stand side by side" with the first family, and all of Tanzania during "this difficult time".
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
The visit, to mark the one-year countdown to next year's Invictus Games for wounded veterans, was meant to be Harry's first family trip back to the UK in four years.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
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
“I think the first family that I heard about where I recognized the cruelty and the inhumanity of it all was the Gonzalez family,” he said, referring to Quintino’s parents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
