family tree

American  

noun

1. a genealogical chart showing the ancestry, descent, and relationship of all members of a family or other genealogical group.

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family tree British  

noun

1. Also called: genealogical tree.  a chart showing the genealogical relationships and lines of descent of a family

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Etymology

Origin of family tree

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

From there, investigators can sometimes find distant relatives to help piece together a family tree that can point to a suspect.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, that long established branch of the dinosaur family tree has gained a surprising new member.

From Science Daily

A family tree hangs in the boardroom and some of the company’s oldest weapons, including a musket from 1830, are displayed in an archive of more than 1,500 pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal

And the number of links and social connections in the sport can build a sprawling curling family tree.

From BBC

Perfectly timed fossils from Morocco reveal a forgotten African population living near the very root of the human family tree.

From Science Daily