filial

American  

[fil-ee-uhl] / ˈfɪl i əl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter.

   filial obedience.

2. noting or having the relation of a child to a parent.

3. Genetics. pertaining to the sequence of generations following the parental generation, each generation being designated by an F followed by a subscript number indicating its place in the sequence.

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filial British  

/ ˈfɪljəl /

adjective

1. of, resembling, or suitable to a son or daughter

   filial affection

2.  F.  genetics designating any of the generations following the parental generation; F 1 indicates the first filial generation, F 2 the second, etc

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Other Word Forms

• filially adverb
• filialness noun
• nonfilial adjective

Etymology

Origin of filial

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin fīliālis, equivalent to Latin fīli ( us ) son + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

As Hyllus, the son of Hercules and Dejanira, David Portillo was similarly impressive, his bright, easy tenor and excellent diction assets in his ardent filial devotion and wooing of Iole.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

For generations, China has relied on filial piety to fill the gaps in elderly care.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2024

Preserving the body is considered an important aspect of filial piety within the context of Confucianism, and that precept encourages long hair, forbids suicide and is interpreted as prohibiting tattoos.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2023

This probably isn't out of filial love or really even to gain any good-faith, boss-b***h news headlines.

From Salon • May 27, 2023

The filial son, talking things out with Mao.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen