A family tree is a diagram that shows how different members of a family are related, usually across several generations. It can also mean someone’s ancestors and relatives in a general sense, not just the diagram.

People use the term "family tree" when discussing where their family came from and who their ancestors were. In school, healthcare, or legal contexts, family trees help explain medical history and inheritance and are also used as simple projects to learn about relatives.

For example:

The doctor asked about our family tree to check for any hereditary diseases.

We made a family tree for my daughter’s school project to show her grandparents and great-grandparents.