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familial
adjective
fa·mil·ial
fə-ˈmil-yəl
-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
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
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Word History
Etymology
French, from Latin familia
First Known Use
1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing familial
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
: of, relating to, or typical of a family
Medical Definition
familial
adjective
fa·mil·ial
fə-ˈmil-yəl
: 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
Nglish: Translation of familial for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of familial for Arabic Speakers
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