bloodline

noun

blood·​line ˈbləd-ˌlīn 

: a sequence of direct ancestors especially in a pedigree

also : family, strain

Synonyms of bloodline

• lineage
• ancestry
• pedigree
• genealogy
• breeding
• origin

Examples of bloodline in a Sentence

came from a bloodline that could be traced back to the 12th century

Recent Examples on the Web

Back then, the imperial family was bigger and incorporated other collateral branches, known as Oke, which offered a pool of candidates if the main bloodline failed to produce an heir. — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

From Bonds and Thome to Pettitte and Sabathia, a new generation of players with MLB bloodlines reignites questions over nepotism and merit. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

In this feat, Balogun embodied the notion that America is an ideal, not a bloodline. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 2 July 2026

In that respect, the concept translates naturally to the LGBTQ+ community because many members of that community have long understood that family can be broader than bloodline. — Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bloodline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bovine
• brucine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

bloodline

noun

blood·​line -ˌlīn 

: a sequence of direct ancestors especially in a pedigree

also : family sense 2, strain sense 1a