lineage

Everyday

1. A lineage is the line of your ancestors, the family members who came before you, such as parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. tree →
2. (science) A lineage is a line of living things that descend from a common ancestor. tree →

In the lessons

History and family studies: kings and queens and their lineage, family trees. Science: evolution and lineages of species. Bible: the lineage of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. It tells the reader where someone comes from.

Examples

• The queen could trace her lineage back hundreds of years. tree →
• We drew a family tree to show our lineage. tree →
• Birds come from a lineage of dinosaurs. tree →
• The Bible gives the lineage of King David. tree →
• The horse had a famous lineage of champions. tree →
• Her lineage includes Irish and Italian ancestors. tree →

Note

Say «LIN-ee-ij» (three parts), not «line-age». Plural: lineages.

Meaning