Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

maximal lineage

noun

Definition of maximal lineage 

: a large kinship group comprising all the descendants of a remotest known ancestor with lineage being usually traced only through ancestors of the same sex as the initial progenitor —contrasted with minimal lineage

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about maximal lineage

Share maximal lineage

Resources for maximal lineage

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near maximal lineage

maximalism

maximalist

maximalize

maximal lineage

maximate

maximation

maximed

Statistics for maximal lineage

Look-up Popularity

Comments on maximal lineage

What made you want to look up maximal lineage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

milieu

the setting in which something occurs

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

  • gramophone
  • Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games