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 Limits and Implications of Genetic Screening While sperm banks routinely screen donors for common genetic diseases and conduct thorough medical and family history reviews, rare mutations like the one implicated here often escape detection.
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William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Moore went on to hit all the other hallmarks commonly heard during a presidential candidate’s stump speech — recounting his difficult family history, bashing President Donald Trump, and putting forward a positive vision for the Democratic Party.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
Fifield’s story has been rediscovered because of Brandt’s post-retirement research on her family history.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Hanks also tries to parse between fact and fiction in her family history, including a story about her maternal grandfather's possible connection to a murder.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for family history
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William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Moore went on to hit all the other hallmarks commonly heard during a presidential candidate’s stump speech — recounting his difficult family history, bashing President Donald Trump, and putting forward a positive vision for the Democratic Party.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
Fifield’s story has been rediscovered because of Brandt’s post-retirement research on her family history.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Hanks also tries to parse between fact and fiction in her family history, including a story about her maternal grandfather's possible connection to a murder.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for family history
Cite this Entry
“Family history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20history. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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