nonfamily
Not your relatives
Nonfamily describes people or things not related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
A nonfamily household consists of people living together who aren't relatives—roommates, unmarried partners, or someone living alone.
Nonfamily members at a gathering are friends or colleagues rather than kin.
The term appears mainly in demographic and institutional contexts.
Bond of mutual affection
- acquaintancePerson slightly known
- neighborPerson living nearby
- colleagueProfessional associate
- allySupportive partner
companion · confidant · peer · fellowship · camaraderie · bonding · community · connection
Fellow employee
- colleagueProfessional associate
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- managerOne who directs others
subordinate · consultant · advisor · collaborator · teammate · boss · client · employer
One excluded from group
- unknownNot yet discovered
- newcomerRecent arrival somewhere
- visitorShort-term guest
- guestWelcomed visitor
passerby · tourist · foreigner · immigrant · expatriate · migrant · drifter · wanderer
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- freedomAbsence of constraint
solitude · self-care · solo · single · unmarried · childless · unattached · independent
Supervised substitute parenting
- group homeSupervised shared residence
- orphanageInstitution housing parentless children
- wardProtected person; division
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
caregiver · social worker · caseworker · adoption · placement · custodian · residential care · boarding school
friendship
Bond of mutual affection
- acquaintancePerson slightly known
- neighborPerson living nearby
- colleagueProfessional associate
ally · companion · confidant · peer · fellowship · camaraderie · bonding · community · connection · associate
coworker
Fellow employee
- colleagueProfessional associate
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- supervisorOne who directs workers
manager · subordinate · consultant · advisor · collaborator · teammate · boss · client · employer · employee
outsider
One excluded from group
guest · passerby · tourist · foreigner · immigrant · expatriate · migrant · drifter · wanderer · transient
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
freedom · solitude · self-care · solo · single · unmarried · childless · unattached · independent · living alone
foster care
Supervised substitute parenting
- group homeSupervised shared residence
- orphanageInstitution housing parentless children
- wardProtected person; division
guardian · caregiver · social worker · caseworker · adoption · placement · custodian · residential care · boarding school · institution
family, familiar, unfamiliar, families, familial, subfamily, superfamily, subfamilies, antifamily