What type of noun is "family"?

The term "family" is classified as a collective noun because it represents a group of individuals who are related to each other, typically by blood or marriage. Collective nouns refer to a collection or unit of people or things considered as a whole, and "family" exemplifies this by encompassing all the members that make up the unit of a familial relationship.

In contrast, transitive nouns, which primarily refer to the action of a verb that requires a direct object, do not fit the definition of "family." Abstract nouns denote concepts, ideas, or states that cannot be perceived through the five senses, such as love or happiness, and while "family" can relate to such concepts, it is inherently a collective term. Lastly, proper nouns name specific individuals, places, or organizations, like "Smith Family" or "Johnson family" but do not apply to the general term "family" itself, as it is not specifying a unique entity. Thus, "family" fits best as a collective noun.