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

As a member of the Kennedy family, Rory continues to find her lineage at the center of headlines. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026

Despite lacking a hippocampus entirely—and having diverged from the mammalian lineage roughly 400 million years ago—larval zebrafish display remarkably precise spatial navigation. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026

Same with Isabella and her Italian lineage. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Jan. 2026

Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon was revealed as the Critics’ Choice winner from a shortlist that included Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro — joining a lineage that ties this year’s new talents to past Critics' Choice winners like Adele, Florence + The Machine and Sam Smith. —Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 22 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