lineage

1 of 2

noun (1)

lin·​e·​age ˈli-nē-ij 

also ˈli-nij

1

a

: descent in a line from a common progenitor

b

: derivation

… the brand's lineage as a leather goods company.

—Colleen Barry

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

lineage

2 of 2

noun (2)

line·​age

less common spelling of linage

: the number of lines of printed or written matter

Synonyms of lineage

Noun (1)

• ancestry
• pedigree
• origin
• genealogy
• breeding

Examples of lineage in a Sentence

Noun (1)

his Italian lineage was very important to him

it is now generally accepted that the lineage of Thomas Jefferson includes black as well as white members

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite his college success and famous lineage as Deion Sanders' son, Shedeur began the season buried on the depth chart behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Gabriel. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Anti-revolutionary views of the French Revolution have a long lineage, including Chateaubriand’s Mémoires d’outre-tombe (started in 1809 and published posthumously in 1850), and Hippolyte Taine’s multivolume Origines de la France contemporaine (1875–1893). —Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025

By wearing this particular tiara, Camilla is not only honoring that legacy but also positioning herself within that lineage. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 Nov. 2025

Her speech was an ode to the union between women, female lineages, and conquered freedoms. —Dulce Moncada, Glamour, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

lineage

noun

lin·​eage

ˈlin-ē-ij

1

: the ancestors from whom a person is descended

2

: the people descended from the same ancestor

Medical Definition

lineage

noun

lin·​e·​age

ˈlin-ē-ij also ˈlin-ij

1

: descent in a line from a common progenitor

2

: a group of individuals descended from a common ancestor

replication in T cell lineages