lineage

1 of 2

noun (1)

lin·​e·​age ˈli-nē-ij How to pronounce lineage (audio)
also ˈli-nij
Synonyms of lineagenext
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
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once. Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Now, an African lineage joins the ranks, as per IFL Science. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026 Birds are thought to have descended from carnivorous dinosaurs that began growing feathers by the Late Jurassic Period; thus, birds are technically one lineage of reptiles. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 Salinas traces her paternal lineage to the town, which is in northern Mexico, and her exhibit is scheduled to be displayed there in November. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 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 8 Apr. 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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