consanguinity

noun

con·​san·​guin·​i·​ty ˌkän-ˌsan-ˈgwi-nə-tē How to pronounce consanguinity (audio)
-ˌsaŋ-
plural consanguinities
1
: the quality or state of being consanguineous
persons related by consanguinity
2
: a close relation or connection
the consanguinity of monotheistic religions

Examples of consanguinity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Political power was based on bloodlines, or consanguinity, and the definition of power was essentially the right to spill blood, or enlist others to spill it for you. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024 In a report released Thursday, investigators said the voter Franklin helped was not related to him within two degrees of consanguinity. Will Langhorne, Arkansas Online, 11 June 2023 Going back to some of the context of Richard Dawkin's debates about consanguinity in the British Pakistani context, genetics may be the problem, but genetics will also be the solution. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2013 Long runs of homozygosity are therefore a globally widespread and under-appreciated characteristic of our genomes, which record past consanguinity and population isolation and provide a distinctive record of the demographic history of an individual's ancestors. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2010 Human populations have experienced a wide range of demographic histories and hold diverse cultural attitudes to consanguinity. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2010 These unique pairings are shared among people who have the same maternal consanguinity. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 15 Apr. 2022 And earlier this month, anthropologists reported hard — skeletal — evidence for consanguinity among the El Sidrón Neanderthals. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2019 More recently Dawkins has brought up the issue of consanguinity amongst the British Pakistani community. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2013

Word History

Etymology

see consanguineous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consanguinity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near consanguinity

Cite this Entry

“Consanguinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consanguinity. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

consanguinity

noun
con·​san·​guin·​i·​ty ˌkän-ˌsan-ˈgwi-nə-tē, -ˌsaŋ- How to pronounce consanguinity (audio)
: the quality or state of being consanguineous

More from Merriam-Webster on consanguinity

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