Definition

Noun 1. The study or investigation of ancestry and family history: The systematic research into the lines of descent of a person, family, or group. 2. A record or account of the ancestry and descent of a person, family, or group: A chart, list, or narrative showing the succession of generations.

Usage

• Genealogy is used as a field of study or as the product of that study (a family tree).
• It is often a singular noun, but the plural genealogies refers to multiple family histories or lines of descent.
• Common collocations include: .

Examples

• She spent years researching her family's genealogy and traced her roots back to the 16th century.
• The library has an extensive collection of local genealogies for historians.
• Genealogy has become more accessible with the advent of DNA testing and digital archives.

Advanced Usage

• "Genealogy of ideas/concepts": A metaphorical extension describing the historical development and lineage of a philosophical concept, theory, or practice.
  • The philosopher wrote a book on the genealogy of morals, tracing the concept's evolution.

Variants and Related Words

• Genealogical (adjective): Pertaining to genealogy.
  • He conducted a genealogical study using parish records.
• Genealogist (noun): A person who studies or traces genealogies.
  • The genealogist helped them find their ancestors' immigration papers.

Synonyms

• Family history: The recorded story of a family's past.
• Lineage: Line of descent from an ancestor.
• Ancestry: One's family or ethnic descent.
• Pedigree: The recorded ancestry, especially of a purebred animal.

Related Phrases

• "Trace one's genealogy": To research and map out one's family tree.
  • He used census records to trace his genealogy.
• "Genealogy website/service": An online platform dedicated to genealogical research.
  • She found a crucial document on a popular genealogy website.

Noun

1. the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
2. successive generations of kin