familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
-ˈmi-lē-əl
1
: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone
a familial disorder
2
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a family
has familial ties to the area
a familial atmosphere

Examples of familial in a Sentence

The company has created a familial atmosphere in its offices. it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Otherwise, the familial wreckage Leonard caused is unconscionable, but sadly not that uncommon — and also not that impactful with the gentle acoustic-guitar score continually making apologies on his behalf. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024 There’s a wealth of themes to plumb, from familial trauma to addiction to sexism to the tyranny of genius, but its core exploration of the sacrifice required to be an artist is exhilarating, brutal, and intoxicating. Ew Staff, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024 Harry and Meghan exited their royal roles in 2020, in a public dispute that was parts familial, economic and legal. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024 As an Earth-sized rocky planet with a 1,000-degree-Fahrenheit surface temperature, Venus has long been dubbed our planet’s evil twin – a familial relationship emboldened by the common assumption that Venus may have once also been covered in oceans. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for familial 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin familia

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of familial was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near familial

Cite this Entry

“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

familial

adjective
fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
: of, relating to, or typical of a family

Medical Definition

familial

adjective
fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone
a familial disorder
compare acquired sense 1, congenital sense 2, hereditary

More from Merriam-Webster on familial

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