filial

/ˈfɪljəl/

/ˈfɪljəl/

Other forms: filially

If you describe something as filial, you're saying it's offspring-related. Depending on who your parents are, your filial duties might include taking out the trash, washing dishes, or ruling empires.

The word filial comes from the Latin words filius, which means "son," and filia, or "daughter." In other words, filial is the filius of filius. One way of remembering the word is to think of a filly, a young horse. The two words aren't related, but it's fun to put them in the same sentence: "The filly's filial love made the mare a happy horse."

Definitions of filial

1. adjective

   designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation
   antonyms:

   parental

   designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced
2. adjective

   relating to or characteristic of or befitting an offspring
   “filial respect”

   synonyms:

   daughterly

   befitting a daughter

   antonyms:

   parental

   relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent