(one's) loved ones

One's family or friends; the people in one's life whom one loves or holds dear. In these uncertain times, you should take every opportunity to tell your loved ones how you feel about them. Here at LifeTrust Insurance, the financial security of you and your loved ones is our top priority. I really enjoy going home and spending Christmas with all of my loved ones.

Persons one loves or is close to, members of one’s family. For dysfunctional families where members actively dislike one another, the term is either a misnomer or used sarcastically. Nevertheless, it is frequently used by persons ignorant of a family’s relationship and, often, by funeral directors and charitable organizations asking one to make a donation in memory of one’s loved ones. Thus, “Donate to the American Cancer Society in memory of a loved one.” British novelist Evelyn Waugh entitled his satire on California funeral rites The Loved One (1948).