familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
-ˈmi-lē-əl
Synonyms of familialnext
1
: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone
a familial disorder
2
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a family
has familial ties to the area
a familial atmosphere

Examples of familial in a Sentence

The company has created a familial atmosphere in its offices. it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His films examine the impact of memory through familial dynamics in varying communities. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 June 2026 Addiction has been proven to be technically familial. Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026 The event featured a intense Florida and familial rivalry between the Miami Mayhem and the Palm Beach Passion, alongside matchups featuring the Austin Aces and Dallas Dream. Sean Pitts, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026 Most notable of Beckham's non-familial guests, however, was Tom Cruise, who seldom appears publicly in the Los Angeles area but took the podium to honor the athlete during the ceremony. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for familial

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin familia

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of familial was in 1843

Cite this Entry

“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

familial

adjective
fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
: of, relating to, or typical of a family

Medical Definition

familial

adjective
fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl How to pronounce familial (audio)
: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone
a familial disorder
compare acquired sense 1, congenital sense 2, hereditary

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