The term 'contemporary family' can apply to various configurations that exist in contemporary society, including, for instance, same-sex civil partnerships, married couples with or without children, single-parent families, cohabiting partners, and voluntary social groupings (such as communes).

The family, as a fundamental social institution, has undergone significant transformations in recent decades. Traditional family structures and functions, once considered stable and uniform, are now marked by diversity and fluidity, reflecting broader social, cultural, and economic changes.