familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
-ˈmi-lē-əl
Synonyms of familial
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

Synonyms of familial

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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.
But my grandmother’s note also gave me a chilling glimpse of the familial tension that Dad held coiled inside. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Forstag has argued that such choices should remain private medical and familial decisions, and has defended trans rights. — Mary Beth Gahan, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026 That feud went public during Jordan's 2016 stint on The Bachelorette, kicking off years of familial cold-shouldering and skipped family weddings. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Some of the most audacious familial attacks — a departure from past campaigns when Republicans and Democrats barred their operations from such acrimonious hits — have come from Republicans, as polls show their candidates trailing in key races. — Dan Merica, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing familial

Browse Nearby Words

familia
familial
familial adenomatous polyposis
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Cite this Entry

“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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
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