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 impact is especially significant for people with inherited disorders that increase their susceptibility to intestinal cancer, including familial adenomatous polyposis.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 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
“To speak up, you have to fight both worlds,” she said, referring to familial and societal constraints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Originally from Miami, Hilton has a large familial support system in the area, which was one of the primary reasons for the move earlier this summer, according to his brother-in-law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
All adults had to be addressed as Mister, Missus, Miss, Auntie, Cousin, Unk, Uncle, Buhbah, Sister, Brother and a thousand other appellations indicating familial relationship and the lowliness of the addressor.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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.
