Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Kinship encompasses the social bonds and relationships derived from blood, marriage, or adoption that connect individuals within a society. These connections often dictate familial roles, responsibilities, and social status.
Related terms
Nuclear family: A nuclear family consists of parents and their children living as a unit, representing the most immediate form of kinship.
Extended family: This includes not just parents and children but also other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all connected by broader kinship ties.
Marriage: A legally and socially sanctioned union between individuals that establishes rights and obligations between them and any offspring they may have