filial

adjective fil·ial \ ˈfi-lē-əl , ˈfil-yəl \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of filial

1 : of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter

filial obedience

filial love

2 : having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring

The new village has a filial relationship with the original settlement.

—

filially

play \ˈfi-lē-ə-lē, ˈfil-yə-lē\ adverb

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Recent Examples of filial from the Web

Westover is a keen and honest guide to the difficulties of filial love, and to the enchantment of embracing a life of the mind.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 17 Apr. 2018
Phèdre departs with Hippolyte, who hides the truth out of filial respect, leaving Phèdre’s confidante, Oenone, to insinuate to the devastated Thésée that Hippolyte did indeed seek to harm Phèdre.

— george loomis, New York Times, "An Opera Worth Fighting Over," 13 Apr. 2018
Through the years, some Wynn executives, especially in human resources, have had an almost filial relationship with the boss.

— alexandra berzon, WSJ, "Casino Managers Enabled Steve Wynn’s Alleged Misconduct for Decades, Workers Say," 27 Mar. 2018
And all good Confucian children must observe filial piety.

— chris buckley, New York Times, "Xi Jinping Thought Explained: A New Ideology for a New Era," 26 Feb. 2018
The mix of filial devotion and resentment that Hamilton feels toward his mentor, George Washington (an excellent Obioma Ugoala), is newly and provocatively combustible.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘Hamilton’ Conquers London (King George Slays, Too)," 5 Jan. 2018
A year later, in September 2017, more than 60 Catholic scholars signed a filial-correction document, which took a much harsher approach than the dubia.

— tyler arnold, National Review, "Pope Francis’s Controversial Step on Communion for the Divorced and Remarried," 12 Dec. 2017
Neither Pope Francis nor the Vatican has issued a comment on the current filial correction.

— tyler arnold, National Review, "Catholic Scholars vs. the Pope Who, They Charge, Is ‘Propagating Heresies’," 30 Sep. 2017
As the relationship between man and youth deepens, crossing class lines and age barriers, Cem begins to feel a filial tug toward his boss.

— geraldine brooks, New York Times, "In Orhan Pamuk’s New Novel, a Youthful Obsession Yields a Haunted Life," 16 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'filial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

filial Has Familial Origins

Filial is descended from Latin filius, meaning "son," and filia, meaning "daughter," and in English (where it has been used since at least the 14th century) it has always applied to both sexes. The word has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in such phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety." These days it can also be used more generally for any emotion or behavior of a child to a parent. You might suspect that filia is also the source of the word filly, meaning "a young female horse" or "a young girl," but it isn't. Rather, filly is from Old Norse fylja.

Origin and Etymology of filial

Middle English, from Late Latin filialis, from Latin filius son — more at feminine

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FILIAL Defined for English Language Learners

filial

adjective

Definition of filial for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a son or daughter : appropriate for a son or daughter

FILIAL Defined for Kids

filial

adjective fil·ial \ ˈfi-lē-əl , ˈfil-yəl \

Definition of filial for Students

: relating to or suitable for a son or daughter

filial affection

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Spanish Central: Translation of filial Nglish: Translation of filial for Spanish speakers

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filial

Definition of filial

filially

filial was our Word of the Day on 08/11/2016. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of filial from the Web

filial Has Familial Origins

Origin and Etymology of filial

Other Anthropology Terms

FILIAL Defined for English Language Learners

filial

Definition of filial for English Language Learners

FILIAL Defined for Kids

filial

Definition of filial for Students

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filial

Definition of filial

filially

filial was our Word of the Day on 08/11/2016. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of filial from the Web

filial Has Familial Origins

Origin and Etymology of filial

Other Anthropology Terms

FILIAL Defined for English Language Learners

filial

Definition of filial for English Language Learners

FILIAL Defined for Kids

filial

Definition of filial for Students

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