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

The Sphagnum mosses that surround me arose some 14 million years ago, the descendants of mosses that evolved 400 million years ago, making their lineage older than the coal seams that runs through the deep mountains. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Midterms featuring nepo-candidates show mixed results Part of Sullivan's attack strategy was going after Stefany Shaheen's lineage as too privileged. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Peppiatt’s great-grandmother, the first in the lineage to professionalize crafting, was a lacemaker specializing in women’s gloves, and Peppiatt’s grandmother taught her artisanal embroidery skills. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

The aesthetic lineage Wingard invokes relied on the genuine nastiness of works like Faster, Pussycat! — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 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