genealogy

1 of 2

noun

ge·​ne·​al·​o·​gy ˌjē-nē-ˈä-lə-jē 

also

-ˈa-lə- 

also ˌje-nē-

plural genealogies

1

: an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms

2

: regular descent of a person, family, or group of organisms from a progenitor (see progenitor sense 1) or older form : pedigree

3

: the study of family ancestral lines

4

: an account of the origin and historical development of something

genealogical

ˌjē-nē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

ˌje-nē-

adjective

genealogically

ˌjē-nē-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌje-nē-

adverb

genealogical

2 of 2

adjective

gene·​a·​log·​i·​cal ¦jēnēə¦läjə̇kəl 

äjēk- also ¦jen-

variants or less commonly genealogic

-äjik, 

-äjēk

: of or relating to genealogy

genealogically

-jə̇k(ə)lē 

-jēk-, 

-li

adverb

Synonyms of genealogy

Noun

• ancestry
• lineage
• pedigree
• family

Examples of genealogy in a Sentence

Noun

They've been researching their genealogies.

has a distinguished genealogy that traces back to William the Conqueror

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The outdoor family-friendly event features Highland dancing, children’s activities, the largest bagpiping championship in North America, iconic caber toss, Scottish genealogy and history, classic British car show and a Scottish petting zoo. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

When vacation photos get scraped, genealogy details appear online or public records get connected to family information, ongoing removal requests can help keep that information from staying in circulation. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

The Bullhead City Police Department announced June 5 that Sonya Alice Langan was positively identified through forensic genetic genealogy after decades of unsuccessful efforts to give the young woman a name. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Individuals can also upload their DNA data directly to places like Othram that specialize in forensic genetic genealogy testing. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English genealogie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin genealogia, from Greek, from genea race, family + -logia -logy; akin to Greek genos race

Adjective

Middle French genealogique, from genealogie + -ique -ical, -ic

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for genealogy

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

genealogy

noun

ge·​ne·​al·​o·​gy ˌjē-nē-ˈäl-ə-jē  ˌjen-ē- 

-ˈal-

plural genealogies

1

: the line of ancestors of a person or family or a history of such a line of ancestors

2

: the study of family lines of ancestors

genealogical

ˌjē-nē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

ˌjen-ē-

adjective

genealogically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

genealogist

-ˈäl-ə-jəst, 

-ˈal-

noun