familial
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a family.
familial ties.
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appearing in individuals by heredity.
a familial disease.
adjective
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of or relating to the family
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occurring in the members of a family
a familial disease
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of familial
From French, dating back to 1895–1900; see origin at family, -al 1
Explanation
The word familial has to do with all things relating to family. A familial gathering is one in which family has come together. A familial bond is a strong connection between family members. It's easy to spot the Latin root familia meaning "family" in the word familial. This is a word that describes events, relationships, or all other things having to do with family. When you talk about a familial bond, you are talking about the kind of intimate connection that only family members can share. If you are interested in genealogy, you have an interest in familial history.
Vocabulary lists containing familial
It's All in the Family
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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Ungifted
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The distinction suggests that depression may alter emotional attention through different pathways depending on a child's underlying level of familial risk.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
Always in the same frame, they exude a preternatural comfort that extends beyond familial ties and speaks to their shared life paths.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Yet, this sibling incubator seems to work best with one critical condition: the familial relationship is based on warmth and companionship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Apprehending the villain is Juliet and Jonathan’s immediate concern, but of no less urgency is their determination to marry, with or without familial consent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
If his sacrifice could save the rest, the greater familial good would be served.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
