1. not related to or involving family members; not hereditary or genetic
Usage: medical; scientific

Examples

• The doctor explained that her condition was nonfamilial and not passed down from her parents.
• Nonfamilial cases of the disease are often caused by environmental factors.
• The research focused on distinguishing between familial and nonfamilial forms of the disorder.
• Most instances of this cancer are nonfamilial, occurring randomly in the population.
• The genetic counselor noted that the mutation appeared to be nonfamilial.
• Nonfamilial Alzheimer’s disease typically develops later in life than the inherited form.