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

Derived Forms

• ˈfilialness, noun
• ˈfilially, adverb

Other Words From

• fili·al·ly adverb
• fili·al·ness noun
• non·fili·al 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

If this all sounds familiar, that’s because the Woodstock ’99 model—a circular firing squad of parental selfishness and denial, and frustrated filial acting-out—has since become the dominant intergenerational dynamic.

From Time

He never saw his father again, their contact limited to letters brimming with intellectual vigor, paternal concern and filial devotion that decades later were published in a best-selling volume in China.

From Washington Post

She explained that “filial laws” are a vestige of English rule.

From The Daily Beast

As a candid psychological exploration of a highly charged filial relationship, The Wolf and the Watchman fascinates.

From The Daily Beast

Apparently Romney has placed his filial devotion in the same blind trust in which he has stored his dignity.

From The Daily Beast

Her husband noticed, and thought it was the expression of a deep filial attachment which he had never suspected.

From Project Gutenberg

The Chinese consul paternally tells his countrymen what they are to do, and they do it with filial submission.

From Project Gutenberg

Tatsu has been without kindred,—he knows not yet the sacred duties of filial love.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them not speak to us of a filial or respectful fear mingled with love, which men should have for their God.

From Project Gutenberg

I listened to her religious exhortations with a feeling of filial gratitude, and they sunk deep into my heart.

From Project Gutenberg