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

Its universal themes of self-acceptance and familial love, complemented by the specificity of this immigrant family’s cultural pride, holds appeal for audience members of any background. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

In a casual, endearingly familial setting, Roshona Bilash gives us a compelling, often comforting taste of one Bengali lineage. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

The menu moves between Mumbai and New York, yet feels unmistakably familial. — Mehr Singh, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

But my grandmother’s note also gave me a chilling glimpse of the familial tension that Dad held coiled inside. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 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