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

• domestic
• household

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

Any previous trips between the two countries have been via flight, leaving her curious about her birth country, Africa, and her familial roots. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024

The Graces’ familial relations remain intriguing throughout the season, even amid mentions of Richard (Rhys Coiro), the kids’ absentee father. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024

This is not only largely due to millennials living alone or away from their familial unit, but also, in some cases, living with parents while working. —TIME, 18 Apr. 2024

Inspired by the iconic live-action sitcom of the 1970s, the new show’s use of the beloved title conjures notions of familial fabric and community cohesion, amid challenges of generational poverty and stifling social policies that perpetuate inequitable caste conditions. —Kyle Bowser, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

This period may bring up familial wounds or issues related to your sense of security. —Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024

Based on the 2019 book of the same name by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma who conquered extreme familial poverty to pass one of the world’s toughest examination processes and become an Indian Police Service officer. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

In February, the new DNA sample was found to be a familial match to DNA collected from Stack's family. —USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Then, through familial DNA, officials were able to identify Jane Doe as 15-year-old Helen Renee Groomes, deputies said. —Paloma Chavez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

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