family bond

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A close emotional connection of love, trust, and loyalty between members of the same family.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a family bond' for one connection and 'family bonds' for several; it is often plural.

   Patterns

   • a strong family bond
   • family bonds between someone and someone
   • strengthen the family bond

   Sharing meals together every evening helped create a strong family bond.

   The long trip brought the sisters closer and deepened the family bond between them.

   Many people say that family bonds matter more than money.

2. 2nouncountable

   A feeling of duty and affection that keeps relatives loyal to one another over time.

   Grammar: Usually plural in this sense: 'family bonds' refers to the whole set of loyal ties.

   Patterns

   • family bonds
   • keep the family bond alive
   • the family bond remains strong

   Even after they moved abroad, the family bond stayed strong.

   Family bonds can survive arguments if people keep talking to each other.

Word forms

Common combinations

a strong family bond

They have a strong family bond built on years of trust.

strengthen the family bond

Weekend visits strengthen the family bond.

weaken the family bond

Constant criticism can weaken the family bond.

family bonds between

There are close family bonds between the cousins.

the family bond remains

Despite the distance, the family bond remains.

Synonyms and how they differ

family tie

Very close in meaning, but 'family tie' often suggests a connection by birth or marriage rather than warm feeling.

kinship

More formal and usually about being related by blood or marriage, not about emotional closeness.

closeness

A general word for emotional intimacy; it does not by itself say the people are family.

Opposites

Word family

bond noun

A connection or tie between people; the base word of the phrase.

bonding noun

The process of forming a close relationship, often within a family.

bond verb

To develop a close relationship with someone.

Commonly confused: family bond or family band?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “family bond”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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