The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PARENTS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
P
A
R
E
N
T
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Members of family" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case members of family = parents.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PARENTS mean?
PARENTS noun- One of the two persons from whom one is immediately biologically descended; a mother or father.
- A surrogate mother
- A third person who has provided DNA samples in an IVF procedure in order to alter faulty genetic material
- A person who acts as a parent in rearing a child; a step-parent or adoptive parent.
- A relative.
- The source or origin of something.
- An organism from which a plant or animal is immediately biologically descended.
- Sponsor, supporter, owner, protector.
- The object from which a child or derived object is descended; a node superior to another node.
- To act as parent, to raise or rear.