Matrilineal meaning

măt'rə-lĭn'ē-əl
The definition of matrilineal is a relative, behavior or other characteristic that is traced through a mother's lineage.

An example of matrilineal is someone being half Italian because their mother is Italian.

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Relating to, based on, or tracing ancestral descent through the maternal line.
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Relating to, based on, or tracing ancestral descent through the maternal line.
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Designating or of descent, kinship, or derivation through the mother.
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Tracing descent only through female lines.

Kerala traditionally has matrilineal inheritance.

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Origin of matrilineal

  • matri- +"Ž lineal
    From Wiktionary

Matrilineal Sentence Examples

  • matrilineal descent (from the mother's line ).

  • The god, the victim and the human group are regarded as of the same kin; the animal (totem) is the earlier form of the god; the deity was originally female, for under matrilineal rules the mother alone is of kin to her children, but, with the rise of descent in the male line, the god was transformed into a male.

  • matrilineal descent systems with ancestor cults.

  • matrilineal society is being produced, with about one third of children raised by single mothers [7] .

  • matrilineal line - connected him to the Tikar tribe, who cluster in present-day Cameroon.

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Related articles

Words near matrilineal in the Dictionary