filial

[fil-ee-uhl]

adjective

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

   filial obedience.

2. noting or having the relation of a child to a parent.

3. Genetics.,  pertaining to the sequence of generations following the parental generation, each generation being designated by an F followed by a subscript number indicating its place in the sequence.

filial

/ ˈfɪljəl /

adjective

1. of, resembling, or suitable to a son or daughter

   filial affection

2. F. genetics designating any of the generations following the parental generation; F 1 indicates the first filial generation, F 2 the second, etc

Other Word Forms

• filially adverb
• filialness noun
• nonfilial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of filial¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin fīliālis, equivalent to Latin fīli ( us ) son + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of filial¹

C15: from Late Latin fīliālis , from Latin fīlius son

Example Sentences

It may sound counterintuitive — because the play is a drama tackling themes of class, feminism and parental and filial obligations — but Reaser and Harner’s superpower is their ability to laugh together.

From Los Angeles Times

Boonnitipat merges that desperation with the filial duty ingrained in Thai society.

From Los Angeles Times

The humanity of his character, concealed in his early filial interactions, will not be denied.

From Los Angeles Times

All demographics participate, though the elders sustain similar impulses on Facebook, now Meta, now metabolized by millennials and Gen Z into an antique or filial address book, a distant dystopia.

From Los Angeles Times

For generations, China has relied on filial piety to fill the gaps in elderly care.

From BBC