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

It’s practically a family tree in metal, commemorating the one-man fundraising efforts of his father, the business developer Steve Soboroff, to repair the local play area.

From Los Angeles Times

Their goal is to determine exactly which species Little Foot belongs to and where it fits within the broader human family tree.

From Science Daily

They are also among the earliest branches of the caenophidian family tree, and their fossil record stretches back more than 20 million years.

From Science Daily

Ongoing analysis of these fossils is expected to improve scientists' understanding of how this dinosaur fits into the broader evolutionary family tree.

From Science Daily

Though I’ve spent years building our family tree across four centuries, I’d never heard of any relative who simply vanished—never to be seen or spoken of again.

From The Wall Street Journal