First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
genealogy
noun ge·ne·al·o·gy \-jē\
: the study of family history
: the history of a particular family showing how the different members of the family are related to each other
plural ge·ne·al·o·gies
Full Definition of GENEALOGY
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 or older form : pedigree
3
: the study of family pedigrees
4
: an account of the origin and historical development of something
— ge·ne·a·log·i·cal \ˌjē-nē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl, ˌje-nē-\ adjective
— ge·ne·a·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of GENEALOGY
Middle English genealogie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin genealogia, from Greek, from genea race, family + -logia -logy; akin to Greek genos race
Related to GENEALOGY
Other Anthropology Terms
Rhymes with GENEALOGY
GENEALOGY Defined for Kids
genealogy
noun ge·ne·al·o·gy \ˌjē-nē-ˈä-lə-jē\
plural ge·ne·al·o·gies
Definition of GENEALOGY for Kids
1
: a 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
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