family tree

noun

1. a genealogical chart showing the ancestry, descent, and relationship of all members of a family or other genealogical group.

family tree

noun

1. a chart showing the genealogical relationships and lines of descent of a family Also calledgenealogical tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of family tree¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

A slightly sweeter, citrus-accented drink that prompts Tanqueray haters like myself to think twice about this liquor’s family tree.

From Ozy

In recent decades, biologists have reconstructed great swaths of the family tree that relates all known organisms.

From Popular-Science

Oregon had sequenced far less than us, but they had samples from all over the coronavirus family tree.

From Popular-Science

We put any family documents or family tree information in desk drawers downstairs, to be dealt with later.

From Washington Post

In return for your $50 year-long donation, you will receive a monthly update on your whale, plus a family tree.

From Washington Post

Half a century ago the family tree was consigned solely to paper.

From The Daily Beast

She comes from a deeply religious background, which has four nuns and two priests in the family tree.

From The Daily Beast

If he had known his family tree, his parents could have said, ‘You’re going to seminary.

From The Daily Beast

And her husband is an Italian count with Agnellis on his family tree.

From The Daily Beast

Across the corporate family tree, the staff of The Wall Street Journal must hold their noses and put it into print.

From The Daily Beast

The greater part of these were cousins, and they gave very detailed family-tree tracings in support of their claims.

From Project Gutenberg

Mappo was going down, right away, to the ground and get a drink at a water-pool near the family tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Fane was no longer able to put him off with contradictions and vagueness: Michael demanded his family tree.

From Project Gutenberg

What became of the junior scions of the family-tree was to him a matter of secondary consideration.

From Project Gutenberg

To trace their family tree back to transplantation at period of Conquest, played out.

From Project Gutenberg