lineage

1 of 2

noun (1)

lin·​e·​age ˈli-nē-ij How to pronounce lineage (audio)
also ˈli-nij
Synonyms of lineage
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

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
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Noun
Now, from membership in the Nazi Party to the facts behind family lineage or legends, communicative memory no longer has the final word. Fern Schumer Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Princess Diana lives on in legacy—and in the faces of her lineage, specifically that of her grandson Prince George. Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 Listing agent Kristina Agustin of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty said the land carries a deeper local lineage than most lifestyle properties that change hands in California wine regions. Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026 But the ghost lineage DNA shows up in both Neanderthal and Denisovan deserts. ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lineage

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lineage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lineage. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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

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