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 gun's direct lineage is in the 1960s

—Erik Larson

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

Noun (1)

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

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

Miles Davis, who was in the lineage of Benny Goodman, mentored Jack DeJohnette, who mentored Terri Lynne Carrington. —Elizabeth Alexander, Time, 1 Apr. 2025

Nico told Forbes in 2020 that his grandfather's legacy and his lineage of entrepreneurship inspired him to create his own branch of Marley Naturals, the family estate’s cannabis brand. —Avalon Hester, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025

As he's proven in his current role as the very bro-y brother on White Lotus — not to mention his Kennedy family lineage — Patrick Schwarzenegger definitely has the chops to pull it off. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025

But the struggles that his lineage endured provided him with perspective. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

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