familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

-ˈmi-lē-əl

1

: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone

a familial disorder

2

: of, relating to, or suggestive of a family

has familial ties to the area

a familial atmosphere

Synonyms of familial

• household
• domestic

Examples of familial in a Sentence

The company has created a familial atmosphere in its offices.

it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together

Recent Examples on the Web

He's considered one of the most influential rappers of all time with songs that speak to the human experience of love, heartache and familial relationships. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Clementine, the oldest daughter, takes control to help break out the other children, and Mary, in telling her story publicly, has agency in rectifying the familial curse. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026

Every present thought, every present feeling, collides with a league of their familial ghosts. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

While no cast members actually broke the law during the show’s production, both Starkey and Taylor-Joy star alongside Annette Bening as criminals with a familial connection in Lucky. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin familia

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing familial

• familial adenomatous polyposis
• familial hypercholesterolemia
• inter-familial

Kids Definition

familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

: of, relating to, or typical of a family

Medical Definition

familial

adjective

fa·​mil·​ial fə-ˈmil-yəl 

: tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone

a familial disorder

compare acquired sense 1, congenital sense 2, hereditary