genealogy

noun

ge·​ne·​al·​o·​gy ˌjē-nē-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce genealogy (audio)
also
-ˈa-lə- How to pronounce genealogy (audio)
 also  ˌje-nē-
plural genealogies
1
: an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms
2
: regular descent of a person, family, or group of organisms from a progenitor (see progenitor sense 1) or older form : pedigree
3
: the study of family ancestral lines
4
: an account of the origin and historical development of something
genealogical adjective
genealogically adverb

Examples of genealogy in a Sentence

They've been researching their genealogies. has a distinguished genealogy that traces back to William the Conqueror
Recent Examples on the Web Forensic genealogy has become increasingly common in solving cold cases in Northern Virginia. Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Then, forensic investigative genetic genealogy identified a family name for the suspect in December, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 By September, investigators were looking into the genealogy of possible family members related to Monroe, including a potential brother and sister. Brie Stimson, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 Now, thanks to forensic genetic genealogy, the remains have been identified as a 52-year-old woman, officials say. Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024 So, in 2018, Hammons paid $99 for a DNA test through the genealogy website Ancestry. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024 However, her ties to her family would come to light two years later, when someone uploaded their DNA into the open-source genetic genealogy database GEDMatch. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 But genetic genealogy has rarely been tested in a courtroom setting to an intense degree. Eric Levenson, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Weston refuses to believe that Hoover never researched her genealogy. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'genealogy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English genealogie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin genealogia, from Greek, from genea race, family + -logia -logy; akin to Greek genos race

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near genealogy

Cite this Entry

“Genealogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genealogy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

genealogy

noun
ge·​ne·​al·​o·​gy ˌjē-nē-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce genealogy (audio) ˌjen-ē- How to pronounce genealogy (audio)
-ˈal-
plural genealogies
1
: the line of ancestors of a person or family or a history of such a line of ancestors
2
: the study of family lines of ancestors
genealogical adjective
genealogically adverb
genealogist
-ˈäl-ə-jəst
-ˈal-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on genealogy

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