familial
adjective
fa·mil·ial
fə-ˈmil-yəl 
-ˈmi-lē-əl
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
The service Handsome staff, chic in Giuliva Heritage uniforms, offer quintessentially Italian and familial service.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Her fiction concentrates thematically upon the emotional and psychological currents traversing the bonds across lineages — whether those connections are well-wrought, addled, severed, or unknown — and the fraught business of familial inheritance.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The dialogue and performances work hand-in-hand to impart a pronounced familial rapport.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2026
The film addresses complicated familial bonds and his mother’s experience caring for others.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for familial
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Her fiction concentrates thematically upon the emotional and psychological currents traversing the bonds across lineages — whether those connections are well-wrought, addled, severed, or unknown — and the fraught business of familial inheritance.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The dialogue and performances work hand-in-hand to impart a pronounced familial rapport.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2026
The film addresses complicated familial bonds and his mother’s experience caring for others.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for familial
Cite this Entry
“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
familial
adjective
fa·mil·ial
fə-ˈmil-yəl
: of, relating to, or typical of a family
Medical Definition
familial
adjective
fa·mil·ial
fə-ˈmil-yəl
: 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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