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 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

lineage

2 of 2

noun (2)

line·​age

less common spelling of linage

: the number of lines of printed or written matter

Synonyms

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

Users can also track data lineage and process status across the entire landscape and move from fixing technical issues to enabling business agility. —Charles Crouchman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jiménez came from a lineage of accordionists, including his grandfather, Patricio, and father, Santiago Jiménez Sr. —Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2025

That lineage begins in 1853, with the founding of the Baltimore Corn and Flour Exchange — the city’s first formal trade organization — established to bring structure and fairness to grain trading when Baltimore was one of the world’s most important export ports. —Mark Anthony Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2025

But because plants don’t preserve well in the fossil record, its lineage has remained largely a mystery. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 July 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