familial

/fə'mijəl/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
familial

Familial traits like curly hair often appear in multiple generations.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Relating to or having the characteristics of a family: Pertaining to the structure, relationships, or dynamics within a family unit.
    • Occurring among members of a family, usually by heredity: Describing traits, conditions, or patterns that are transmitted through or common within a family line.
Examples of Usage
  • Adjective:
    • There is a strong familial resemblance between the sisters. (The sisters look very much alike, as is common in families.)
    • The study focused on familial patterns of heart disease. (The research examined how heart disease occurs within families.)
    • They share a close familial bond. (They have a strong connection typical of family members.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Familial aggregation": In medicine and genetics, this term describes the clustering of a trait or disease within families more often than would be expected by chance.
    • The familial aggregation of certain cancers suggests a genetic component.
  • "Familial duty": A responsibility or obligation perceived as inherent to one's role within a family.
    • Caring for elderly parents is often seen as a familial duty.
Variants and Related Words
  • Family (n): The basic unit in society traditionally consisting of parents and their children.
  • Familially (adv): In a manner relating to family. (This adverb is rare but grammatically correct).
    • The estate was divided familially, according to tradition.
Synonyms
  • Genetic: Relating to genes or heredity. (Note: 'Familial' can imply genetic transmission but is broader, encompassing shared environment and social structure).
  • Hereditary: Passed down from parents to offspring.
  • Domestic: Relating to the home or household. (This is a looser synonym, focusing more on the home environment than kinship).
Antonyms
  • Nonfamilial: Not relating to or occurring within a family.
  • Sporadic: Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; not inherited or clustered in families.
Notes on Meaning
  • The primary meaning of familial connects to the social unit of a family. Its secondary, scientific meaning specifically highlights patterns (like diseases or traits) that recur within biological families, often implying a genetic or shared environmental cause. It is a more formal and academic term than the simple adjective "family" (e.g., "family car" vs. "familial obligations").
familial

Familial traits like curly hair often appear in multiple generations.

Adjective
  1. occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
    • an inherited disease
    • familial traits
    • genetically transmitted features
  2. relating to or having the characteristics of a family
    • children of the same familial background
    • familial aggregation