# genealogy

/ˌdʒiniˈɑɫədʒi/ (US) · /dʒˌiːnɪˈælədʒi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/genealogy
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the study of family history

noun · CEFR B2

the study of family history and how different generations of a family are connected.

For teachers: the academic or amateur study of family lineages and the history of their members. Uncountable in this sense.

- She became interested in genealogy after finding an old box of family letters.
- Advances in DNA testing have revolutionised the field of genealogy, allowing researchers to bridge gaps in historical paper trails.

### 2. a family tree or record

noun · CEFR B2

a list or chart that shows the history of a family over many years.

For teachers: a record or table showing the descent of a person or family from their ancestors. Countable in this sense.

- The family published a detailed genealogy that traced their roots back to the 1700s.
- The historian spent years compiling a complete genealogy of the royal house, documenting every branch of the family across three centuries.

### 3. a person's line of descent

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the series of ancestors that a person or group comes from.

For teachers: the actual line of descent or pedigree of a specific person or group. Often used to discuss biological or historical origins.

- He was proud of his ancient genealogy and his family's long history in the village.
- The claimant sought to prove his genealogy through a series of baptismal records and land deeds held in the county archives.

## Examples

- She spent years researching her family genealogy.
- Interest in genealogy has surged recently due to the availability of online census records and DNA testing kits.
- While some pursue genealogy to claim noble ancestry, most researchers are simply looking to ground their personal identity in the documented reality of their forebears' lives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.