family history

noun

1
: past occurrences (of a medical or mental health condition) in family members or past incidences (of a type of behavior) by family members
They have a family history of heart disease.
a family history of violence
2
: a record of one's ancestors
He can trace his family history all the way back to the Pilgrims.

Examples of family history in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sequel dives further into the curse as a new generation of Owens women discovers the secret of their family history. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026 Nitsche had never smoked, and had no family history of lung cancer. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026 During her presentation, Matsumoto will talk about her family history. Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 With her family history of breast cancer, using a chatbot for health advice feels too risky. ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for family history

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Family history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20history. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster