1
a
: descent in a line from a common progenitor
b
: derivation
the gun's direct lineage is in the 1960s—
Erik Larson
Erik Larson2
: a group of individuals tracing descent from a common ancestor
especially
: such a group of persons whose common ancestor is regarded as its founder
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
Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Outside his parish, a mosaic of Augustinian saints — including Saint Monica, Clare of Montefalco, and Saint Rita of Cascia — reflects that spiritual lineage.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
And this is where Mary and her family played a critical role that has gone missing from the New Testament Gospels—namely, the revolutionary political implications of this twofold royal lineage.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
For example, to remind them of that lineage, the team’s shirts during the warm-up rounds were a nod to previous European away victories — wearing salmon for 1987 at Muirfield Village, navy for 1995 at Oak Hill, yellow for 2004 at Oakland Hills, and magenta for Medinah in 2012.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lineage
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Noun
In other words, humility — more than lineage or fortune — may be the true secret to survival.
—Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Outside his parish, a mosaic of Augustinian saints — including Saint Monica, Clare of Montefalco, and Saint Rita of Cascia — reflects that spiritual lineage.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
And this is where Mary and her family played a critical role that has gone missing from the New Testament Gospels—namely, the revolutionary political implications of this twofold royal lineage.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
For example, to remind them of that lineage, the team’s shirts during the warm-up rounds were a nod to previous European away victories — wearing salmon for 1987 at Muirfield Village, navy for 1995 at Oak Hill, yellow for 2004 at Oakland Hills, and magenta for Medinah in 2012.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lineage
Cite this Entry
“Lineage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lineage. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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