superfamily

[ soo-per-fam-uh-lee, -fam-lee ]
/ ˈsu pərˌfæm ə li, -ˌfæm li /

noun, plural su·per·fam·i·lies. Biology.

a category of related families within an order or suborder.

Origin of superfamily

First recorded in 1870–75; super- + family

Example sentences from the Web for superfamily

British Dictionary definitions for superfamily

superfamily
/ (ˈsuːpəˌfæmɪlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a suborder
any analogous group, such as a group of related languages

Scientific definitions for superfamily

superfamily
[ sōōpər-făm′ə-lē ]

A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order or its subdivisions and containing one or more families. The names of superfamilies in the animal kingdom end in -oidea, such as Hominoidea, the primate superfamily containing the family of apes (Pongidae) and the family of humans (Hominidae).