Elamur: [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [Parse](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/parse/) · **Dictionary** · [Translate](https://md.translate.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [Research](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [MCP](https://mcp.elamur.ai/) · [Groupants](https://md.groupants.elamur.ai/free/en/)

[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/in-the-family-way/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / in the family way

# in the family way

phrase (idiom, prepositional phrase: be in the family way)

«in the family way» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, old-fashioned) pregnant.

### In the lessons

Used by older people and in old books to mention pregnancy gently; today it sounds quaint or jokey. Register: old-fashioned, polite; all regions.

### Examples

- Gran said, «I hear your cousin is in the family way.»
- In the old film, the wife blushes and says she's in the family way.
- My aunt is in the family way, so the baby is due in spring.
- Chat: «in the family way» means pregnant, it's what my nan says
- The village gossip was that the baker's wife was in the family way.

### Note

It does not mean «like a family» or «in the family's path». It may sound old or funny to young people. Plain word: pregnant.