English Explanatory Dictionary

matrilineal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Tracing descent only through female ancestors.

Pronunciation

/ˌmeɪtɹɪˈlɪnɪəl/ /ˌmætɹɪ-/

Word forms

matrilineal

Etymology

From matri- + lineal. Coined by British government anthropologist Northcote Whitridge Thomas in 1904 along with patrilineal.

Antonyms

patrilineal

Related words

matrilateral matriline

Derived words

matrilineal descent matrilinealism matrilineality matrilineal line matrilineal lineage matrilineally nonmatrilineal
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