patrilineal

adjective

pat·​ri·​lin·​eal ˌpa-trə-ˈli-nē-əl How to pronounce patrilineal (audio)
: relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line
a patrilineal society

Examples of patrilineal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His decision flew in the face of centuries of patrilineal tradition within House Targaryen and across the majority of the Seven Kingdoms, including the dispute that led to Viserys becoming king in the first place. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 June 2024 The findings also show that like other Neolithic families, those in the passage tombs were patrilineal—the men were typically related to each other whereas adult women had no genetic kin in the tombs. Andrew Curry, science.org, 10 July 2024 Name extinction is also a naturally occurring phenomenon called the Galton-Watson process, which posits that in patrilineal societies, surnames are lost or die out over time with each new generation as women take on their husbands’ surnames. Chris Lau, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024 Of the 1291 populations defined in the 2019 study, 590 were patrilineal. Eliza Anyangwe and Melissa Mahtani, CNN, 3 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for patrilineal 

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patrilineal was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near patrilineal

Cite this Entry

“Patrilineal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrilineal. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

patrilineal

adjective
pat·​ri·​lin·​eal ˌpa-trə-ˈlin-ē-əl How to pronounce patrilineal (audio)
: relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line
patrilineal society
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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