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

In recent years, travelers have documented delving into their roots to identify their lineage and as a way to gain dual citizenship. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026

Elite Dangerous continues the lineage of the 1984 original in grand fashion and is one of the most open-ended and ambitious video games ever created. —Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026

This lineage suggests potential for deployment on edge devices without requiring constant cloud connectivity. —Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

That lineage connects directly to Moura’s cinematic DNA, which is also shaped as much by Italian cinema as by Brazilian movements like Cinema Novo. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026

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