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

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In the next few weeks, hundreds of thousands of freshmen, many of them arriving without any family history of college at all, will decide whether to walk into a fraternity event or skip it. Todd Buchanan, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Fourth-generation Napa winemaker Dario Sattui built the structure as an homage to his family history, specifically his great grandfather Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant who opened a winery in San Francisco in the 1880s. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 As befits the title, Solnit offers meandering meditations on exploration, art, and family history. The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026 Having a family history of mental illness and trauma are primary risk factors for major mental disorders. Anand Kumar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for family history

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Cite this Entry

“Family history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20history. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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