Final answer:
A blended family is one in which at least one partner has children from a previous relationship, and these families are becoming increasingly common as variations from the traditional nuclear family.
Step-by-step explanation:
A family in which at least one partner has children from a previous marriage, living in the home or nearby, is known as a blended family. Blended families are a form of family structure that occurs when divorced or widowed adults with children remarry, combining two separate family units into a new, united family. This family dynamic has become more common and is a notable variation from the traditional nuclear family, which consists of two parents and their children living in the same household.
In blended families, the step-siblings and half-siblings may live together or nearby, and the family may also include children from the current marriage. While the nuclear family was once considered the norm, recent years have seen a rise in this and other variations, reflecting the diverse and changing nature of family relationships in modern society.