# lineage

/ˈɫɪniədʒ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. family descent

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the series of families that you come from, going back a long time.

For teachers: direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree. Often used in historical or genealogical contexts.

- The king could trace his lineage back to the twelfth century.
- The researcher spent years in the archives attempting to verify the family's noble lineage through baptismal records and land deeds.

### 2. biological or evolutionary line

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a group of living things that are related because they developed from the same earlier form.

For teachers: a sequence of species or cells that have evolved from a common ancestor.

- Scientists studied the lineage of the virus to see how it changed.
- By comparing DNA sequences, biologists can reconstruct the evolutionary lineage of modern birds back to their dinosaur ancestors.

### 3. payment by line of text

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a way of paying a writer based on how many lines of text they write.

For teachers: payment or a fee calculated according to the number of lines of printed or written matter.

- The journalist was paid a small lineage for every column he produced.
- Before the shift to digital media, many freelance contributors relied on lineage as their primary method of calculating invoice totals.

Usage: In modern publishing, 'word count' has largely replaced this system.

## Examples

- She can trace her lineage back to the 18th century.
- The historian spent years researching the royal lineage to determine who was the rightful heir to the throne.
- Genetic testing has allowed researchers to map the ancient lineage of these indigenous populations, revealing migration patterns that occurred thousands of years before recorded history.

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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.