guardian
/ˈɡɑrdiən/An adult who is legally responsible for a child whose parents cannot care for them.
Example: His aunt acts as his legal guardian while his parents work overseas.
C122 words · Advanced
Family & Friends vocabulary — C1
Family & Friends vocabulary for relationships under strain, including breadwinner, confide and inseparable, plus words like toxic and solidarity.
22 questions
Words in this set
22estranged
/ɛˈstreɪndʒd/No longer speaking to a family member after a long or serious disagreement.
Example:
She has been estranged from her brother for several years.
next of kin
The relative closest to you, who is contacted first if you are badly hurt or die.
Example:
The hospital asked me to name my next of kin.
breadwinner
/ˈbrɛˌdwɪnər/The member of a family who earns the money that everyone else lives on.
Example:
She became the sole breadwinner after her husband fell ill.
descendant
/dɪˈsɛndənt/A person related to someone who lived in an earlier generation, such as a grandchild or great-grandchild.
Example:
She is a direct descendant of the town's first mayor.
genealogy
/ˌdʒiniˈɑlədʒi/The study of a family's history and the relationships between its members over many generations.
Example:
He spent years researching his family's genealogy.
heir
/ɛr/A person who has the legal right to receive someone's money, property or title after they die.
Example:
As the eldest son, he was the heir to the family business.
filial
/ˈfɪliəl/Relating to the duty and respect a child owes to a parent.
Example:
He visited his mother every week out of filial duty.
surrogate
/ˈsɜrəɡət/A woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple.
Example:
They used a surrogate to have their second child.
custodial
/kəˈstoʊdiəl/Having the legal responsibility to look after a child, especially after a separation.
Example:
She became the custodial parent after the divorce.
confide
/kənˈfaɪd/To tell someone your private worries or secrets because you trust them.
Example:
I only confide in two people about money worries.
clique
/klik/A small group of close friends who do not welcome new people into their circle.
Example:
There's a clique in my class that ignores everyone else.
inseparable
/ˌɪnˈsɛpərəbəl/Describing two people who are so close that they are almost always together.
Example:
Those two have been inseparable since primary school.
solidarity
/ˌsɑləˈdɛrəti/Support and loyalty shown between people who share the same feelings, goals or difficulties.
Example:
Friends showed their solidarity by helping her move house for free.
kindred spirit
Someone who shares your own attitudes, interests or way of thinking.
Example:
She felt she had found a kindred spirit in her new colleague.
fair-weather friend
Someone who is only your friend when things are going well, but disappears during difficult times.
Example:
He turned out to be a fair-weather friend who vanished when I needed help.
toxic
/ˈtɑksɪk/Describes a friendship that harms your wellbeing, often through control, jealousy or constant criticism.
Example:
She finally ended the toxic friendship that left her feeling drained.
frenemy
A person who acts like a friend but who you also feel is rivalling or competing with you.
Example:
They smiled at each other, but everyone knew they were frenemies.
ostracise
To deliberately exclude someone from a group and refuse to include them socially.
Example:
The group ostracised her after the argument at the party.
standoffish
Not friendly or open with other people, keeping a distance from them.
Example:
He seemed standoffish at first, but he warmed up once we talked.
reconcile
/ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl/To become friendly with someone again after a long quarrel.
Example:
They've finally reconciled after years of silence.
amicable
/ˈæmɪkəbəl/Friendly and without anger, especially when people settle a disagreement or part ways.
Example:
They keep things amicable for the sake of the children.
