parentage

noun

par·​ent·​age ˈper-ən-tij 

1

a

: descent from parents or ancestors : lineage

a person of noble parentage

b

: derivation, origin

a tradition of uncertain parentage

2

: parenthood

Synonyms

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

Examples of parentage in a Sentence

they were pleased that their son's girlfriend was of good parentage

Recent Examples on the Web

The shifting Nativity narratives, for instance, suggest that rumors about Jesus’ parentage existed from the beginning. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Birthright citizenship was a profound acknowledgment that those born here, regardless of parentage or circumstance, belong here. —Paola Mendoza, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025

This has allowed millions of people each year to automatically become American citizens irrespective of their parentage. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025

In some states, order of parentage, also known as parentage judgment or judgment of parentage, streamlines the process of confirming legal parentage for LGBTQ+ families. —Julianna Bragg, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French, from parent parent entry 1 + -age -age

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

parentage

noun

par·​ent·​age ˈpar-ənt-ij 

ˈper-

: descent from parents or ancestors : lineage