stem families

A form of stem family — A family system in which a couple's firstborn child lives with them in the family home, and that child's spouse moves into the home of said in-laws, so that the younger couple's children are raised in the home of their grandparents. Usually, the younger offspring move out upon marriage. The inheritance, depending on the culture, may or may not be the most favorable to the firstborn.

Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of stem family
Cite this entry
APA

stem families. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stem%20families

MLA

“stem families.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stem%20families. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stem families,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stem%20families.

Source: stem families on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.