# filial

/ˈfɪɫiəɫ/ (US) · /fˈɪlɪəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/filial
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

showing love, respect, and care for your parents. You use it to talk about a child's duty to look after older family members.

For teachers: Pertaining to the relationship or duties of a son or daughter toward a parent, especially love, respect, and obedience. Often appears in discussions of family obligation and moral philosophy.

## Examples

- She shows filial love by visiting her parents weekly.
- He moved closer to home out of filial duty to care for his aging mother.
- The novel explores filial loyalty as both a source of strength and a burden, as the heroine sacrifices her career to honour her father's wishes.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.