lineage

noun lin·e·age \ ˈli-nē-ij also ˈli-nij \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of lineage

1 a : descent in a line from a common progenitor

b : derivation

the gun's direct lineage is in the 1960s
—Erik Larson

2 : a group of individuals tracing descent from a common ancestor; especially : such a group of persons whose common ancestor is regarded as its founder

See lineage defined for English-language learners

See lineage defined for kids

Recent Examples of lineage from the Web

If the internet’s fake news problem has a coherent genealogy, its lineage runs through Adams’s body of work.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Who’s Afraid of David Hogg?," 6 Apr. 2018
Why is not clear, but in March a Moroccan newspaper called Al-Ousboue traced the queen’s lineage back 43 generations.

— The Economist, "Muslims consider Queen Elizabeth’s ties to the Prophet Muhammad," 5 Apr. 2018
The German press also point to his lineage as the grandson of Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, a prominent dissident executed in 1945.

— steven arons, Bloomberg.com, "Five Key Players at the Heart of Deutsche Bank’s Drama," 3 Apr. 2018
The group is part of the national society of women who can trace their lineage to patriots who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Daughters of the American Revolution recruiting," 2 Apr. 2018
Most royal wedding tiaras are from the royal vault, but Diana's actually belonged to her family, who can trace their lineage back to the Tudor period, People reports.

— carrie goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Here's The Tiara Meghan Markle Is Most Likely to Wear Down the Aisle," 22 Mar. 2018
Noah Grant Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and proud of her Risley and Hotchkiss lineage.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Geraldine Strong," 6 Mar. 2018
After tracing his lineage with Ancestry.com, Eruzione shares the personal message for all winter sports athletes about what being an American means to him.

— mike eruzione, USA TODAY, "“After all these years, I know where our greatness came from”," 23 Feb. 2018
Their plight, in fact, is the work of a dog-hating politician who comes from a clan with a long cat-loving lineage.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Isle of Dogs' scratches quirky itch with animated fantasy," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lineage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lineage

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

lineage Synonyms

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

lineage

noun line·age

less common spelling of linage

: the number of lines of printed or written matter

LINEAGE Defined for English Language Learners

lineage

noun

Definition of lineage for English Language Learners

: the people who were in someone's family in past times

LINEAGE Defined for Kids

lineage

noun lin·eage \ ˈli-nē-ij \

Definition of lineage for Students

1 : the ancestors from whom a person is descended

2 : people descended from the same ancestor

Medical Dictionary

lineage

noun lin·e·age \ ˈlin-ē-ij also ˈlin-ij \

medical Definition of lineage

1 : descent in a line from a common progenitor

2 : a group of individuals descended from a common ancestor

replication in T cell lineages

Learn More about lineage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lineage Spanish Central: Translation of lineage Nglish: Translation of lineage for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lineage for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lineage

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lineage

Definition of lineage

Recent Examples of lineage from the Web

First Known Use of lineage

lineage Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Genetics Terms

lineage

less common spelling of linage

LINEAGE Defined for English Language Learners

lineage

Definition of lineage for English Language Learners

LINEAGE Defined for Kids

lineage

Definition of lineage for Students

Medical Dictionary

lineage

medical Definition of lineage

Learn More about lineage

Seen and Heard

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