family history
noun
1
: past occurrences (of a medical or mental health condition) in family members or past incidences (of a type of behavior) by family members
They have a family history of heart disease.
a family history of violence
2
: a record of one's ancestors
He can trace his family history all the way back to the Pilgrims.
Examples of family history in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chicago health care consultant contacted his physician at Northwestern Medicine, who referred him for a diagnostic colonoscopy, at least partly because Contos, 45, has a family history of colon issues.
—
Harris Meyer, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024
Her sister's breast cancer diagnosis offered up clues, starting with her doctor's office asking about family history.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The 1,232 participants in the current study had type 2 diabetes or risk factors such as smoking tobacco, high cholesterol and blood pressure, were overweight or obese and/or had a family history of heart disease.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
While some people may have a family history of hair loss (hereditary), others may experience alopecia due to noninheritable genetic factors, as follows:
Hereditary: Being hereditary refers to traits or conditions that are passed down from parents to their children through genes.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for family history 
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Harris Meyer, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024
Her sister's breast cancer diagnosis offered up clues, starting with her doctor's office asking about family history.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The 1,232 participants in the current study had type 2 diabetes or risk factors such as smoking tobacco, high cholesterol and blood pressure, were overweight or obese and/or had a family history of heart disease.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
While some people may have a family history of hair loss (hereditary), others may experience alopecia due to noninheritable genetic factors, as follows:
Hereditary: Being hereditary refers to traits or conditions that are passed down from parents to their children through genes.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for family history
Dictionary Entries Near family history
Cite this Entry
“Family history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20history. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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