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

Synonyms of familial

• household
• domestic

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 family is seeking damages for hospital and medical expenses, coroner’s fees, funeral and burial expenses, loss of familial relationships, pain and suffering, alleged violations of constitutional rights, and attorneys’ fees and costs, among other claims. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026

In these stories, Cicellis presents fate as the imposition of familial or vocational inheritance, rather than the decree of a higher power. —Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026

Others cautioned of damage to familial relationships or fears over their long-term job prospects. —Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026

Allegations of familial maneuvering continued after the killings. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin familia

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing familial

• familial adenomatous polyposis
• familial hypercholesterolemia
• inter-familial

Kids 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