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 government says the reviews are not citizenship revocations, but rather a re-examination of applications that may lack sufficient proof of lineage. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Curtis and Hargitay have more in common than their respective Hollywood lineage; in fact, their lifelong connections to showbiz brought them together decades earlier. —Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

Siphonocryptida turned out not to be a distinct order after all, but part of an existing lineage. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026

The goblin shark -- or Mitsukurina owstoni -- is the last representative of a lineage of the ancient shark family Mitsukurinidae that traces back about 125 million years. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 June 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