matrilineal

Valid in Scrabble

Pronunciation

/ˌmeɪtɹɪˈlɪnɪəl/

See all 2 pronunciations

/ˌmeɪtɹɪˈlɪnɪəl/ · /ˌmætɹɪ-/

Definition of matrilineal

1 sense · 1 part of speech · etymology included

adj

(not-comparable)Tracing descent only through female ancestors.

“Kerala traditionally has matrilineal inheritance.”
“Enkidu expresses the values of nature, matrilineal conservatism, and the populism of the assembly, the assembly of village elders from the days before military dictatorship.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

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

1 play · some not in Scrabble

200+ playable · top: ALIMENTAL (11 pts)

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