relatives

word · lemma: relative

/ˈɹɛɫətɪvz/
REL-uh-tivz
/ɹˈɛlətˌɪvz/
REL-uh-tivz

Definition

People in your family, such as your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, or grandparents. It usually means family members connected by blood or marriage.

Usage & Nuances

Often used in the plural: 'my relatives'. It is broader and slightly less personal than 'family' and can include extended family. In everyday speech, people often say 'family' more often, while 'relatives' is common when you want to be specific or a bit formal.

Example Sentences

My relatives live in another city.

basic

We visited our relatives last weekend.

basic

She has many relatives in Brazil.

basic

A bunch of relatives are coming over for dinner tonight.

natural

I only see some of my relatives during the holidays.

natural

To be honest, I'm not very close to those relatives.

natural