Family departs? Gracious! (4)
I believe the answer is:
kind
'gracious' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'family departs?' is the wordplay.
'family' becomes 'kin' (synonyms).
'departs?' becomes 'd' (abbreviation eg in train timetables).
'kin'+'d'='KIND'
(Other definitions for kind that I've seen before include "Generous - type" , "Gracious" , "Type; good-hearted" , "Pleasant; sort" , "Generous - sort" .)