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

We’re told there’s some troubling family history in their background that might have led to their estrangement, though it’s not really shown. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Damman noted that even five minutes of getting the heart rate up after a meal is enough to blunt the post-meal spike, which points to real potential for people managing insulin resistance or a family history of type 2 diabetes. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026

When a full-body scan might make sense The calculation changes for people with symptoms or specific high-risk factors, such as a strong family history of certain cancers. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

As the son of immigrants, his family history has had a major impact on his life of service and values. — Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for family history

• consistory
• ethnohistory
• mystery