matrilineal

or mat·ri·lin·e·ar

[ ma-truh-lin-ee-uh l, mey- ]
/ ˌmæ trəˈlɪn i əl, ˌmeɪ- /

adjective

inheriting or determining descent through the female line.
Compare patrilineal.

Origin of matrilineal

First recorded in 1900–05; matri- + lineal

OTHER WORDS FROM matrilineal

mat·ri·lin·e·al·ly, mat·ri·lin·e·ar·ly, adverb

Words nearby matrilineal

matriculate, matriculation, matrifocal, matrilateral, matrilineage, matrilineal, matriliny, matrilocal, matrimonial, matrimony, matrimony vine

Example sentences from the Web for matrilineal

British Dictionary definitions for matrilineal

matrilineal
/ (ˌmætrɪˈlɪnɪəl, ˌmeɪ-) /

adjective

relating to descent or kinship through the female line

Derived forms of matrilineal

matrilineally, adverb

Medical definitions for matrilineal

matrilineal
[ măt′rə-lĭn′ē-əl ]

adj.

Relating to, based on, or tracing ancestral descent through the maternal line.

Cultural definitions for matrilineal

matrilineal
[ (mat-ruh-lin-ee-uhl) ]

Tracing kinship and descent through the female line. (Compare patrilineal.)