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.
With the arrival of a baby, the stakes of those familial responsibilities become much higher, especially considering Galactus may destroy the planet before Franklin reaches his first milestones. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 Apr. 2025 Players in Martin’s position often get their own postgame handshake with the opposing team, which further emphasizes the familial aspect players build despite — or because of — the inherently violent nature of the sport. Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Despite the years of familial fighting, both Nick and Aaron shared their grief on social media. Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 In true Christie fashion, the Tressilian reunion inevitably leads to murder, familial treachery, and a labyrinthine hunt for the killer. Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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