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
Other factors include age (most cases occur after age 50), diet (a high-fat diet can increase cancer risk), and family history of the disease.
—
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Researchers collected pathology reports, demographics, symptoms, and family history.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The deeply personal project sees Manenti drawing on his family history to tell a story of intimacy, memory and resilience between two worlds.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Diagnosis of the condition typically begins with a dermatologist reviewing when symptoms started, possible triggers and establishing a family history of allergies or eczema.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for family history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Researchers collected pathology reports, demographics, symptoms, and family history.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The deeply personal project sees Manenti drawing on his family history to tell a story of intimacy, memory and resilience between two worlds.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Diagnosis of the condition typically begins with a dermatologist reviewing when symptoms started, possible triggers and establishing a family history of allergies or eczema.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share