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

Glover speaks about the responsibility of being an employer, of keeping British manufacturing alive when the economics rarely stack up, and of honoring a lineage while running a viable modern company. —Kirsty McGregor, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

The carriage entrance now leads to a luminous gallery lined with portraits of the Marquis’ lineage. —Sucheta Rawal, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025

Chase Iron Eyes says his family’s lineage was nearly wiped out at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890, the day of the massacre. —Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025

Passing the baton of support from Fiyero to Fiyero — the dashing but complicated prince character in the film and Broadway show — Bailey added Irwin to the lineage that also includes Tony Award-winning Aaron Tveit, Taye Diggs and Adam Lambert. —Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 25 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