matrilineal

adjective

ma·​tri·​lin·​eal ˌma-trə-ˈli-nē-əl 

ˌmā-

: relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the maternal line

matrilineal society

matrilineally

ˌma-trə-ˈli-nē-ə-lē 

ˌmā-

adverb

Did you know?

A person's lineage is his or her line of ancestors. So matrilineal means basically "through the mother's line", just as patrilineal means "through the father's line". Matrilineality is an important concept in anthropology; among other things, it usually determines who will inherit property on a person's death. Though families that follow the European model take the father's name and are therefore patrilineal, matrilineal societies have existed around the world, including among various American Indian tribes.

Examples of matrilineal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The genetic analysis focused on mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, which is inherited from the mother in humans and animals and can be used to trace matrilineal lineages. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

In 2021, a government panel tasked with ensuring stable succession shelved a decision on whether to make women (or matrilineal family members) eligible for the throne. —Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 1 May 2024

But in all the nation's imperial history, there has never been a single emperor or empress from the matrilineal line, said Japan Today. —Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 1 May 2024

Killer whales move around in matrilineal units, a mother with up to four generations of descendants. —Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

matrilineal

adjective

ma·​tri·​lin·​eal ˌma-trə-ˈlin-ē-əl  ˌmā- 

: relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the maternal line

a matrilineal society