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

The family history has fueled speculation that Zambada would cut a deal after his arrest and spill secrets about corruption. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Many have no symptoms or concerning family history and pass their annual sports physical without raising suspicion. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026

Shi draws on his own family history to examine ageing, domestic violence and intergenerational duty in contemporary China, working in a mode that marries close observational filmmaking with formally inventive cinematic language. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026

Cholesterol and blood sugar get checked on a schedule as a patient gets older — or earlier if there is a family history. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Rhymes for family history

• consistory
• ethnohistory
• mystery