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

Those accusations are easy to level, given their familial connection, but the fact Andy Howe is still at the club and has a senior executive title suggests his work and input has been valued by at least some within the hierarchy. —Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 May 2026

The novel demonstrates that even the unspeakable—civil war, familial grief—can be named through a close, humanizing narrative voice. —Time, 12 May 2026

Throughout Hollywood history, a number of legendary familial duos have starred together in movies, including Uma Thurman and Maya Hawke and Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026

And, of course, her familial and cultural roots. —Essence, 8 May 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