familial
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of a family.
familial ties.
-
appearing in individuals by heredity.
a familial disease.
adjective
-
of or relating to the family
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ungifted
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Monica may spend time with David and choose whether she’d like to activate his imprinting feature, triggering a familial love that looks and feels as real as her biological son’s — at least to David.
From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026
The other two are important, sure, especially for not rocking the familial boat, but everyone should abide by the letter of the law.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026
Transportation systems, workplaces, familial and social relationships, and government services increasingly assume continuous digital participation.
From Slate • May 20, 2026
Accordingly, the book offers strategies for mitigating against chaos, beginning with weekly planning sessions during which she recommends plotting out the coming seven days, listing commitments and priorities—professional, familial and personal.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
She may lose her job because of familial association with treason.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
