May 10, 2026
matrilineal
[ma-truh-lin-ee-uhl]
adjective: relating to descent through the female line
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When something is matrilineal, it traces descent through the female line. The term combines Latin roots meaning "mother" and "line," highlighting systems where ancestry and inheritance flow through mothers rather than fathers. |
Example: The community uses a matrilineal system where property and titles are inherited from the mother.
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