bloodline

[bluhd-lahyn]

noun

1. (usually of animals) the line of descent; pedigree; strain.

bloodline

/ ˈblʌdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. all the members of a family group over generations, esp regarding characteristics common to that group; pedigree

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloodline¹

First recorded in 1905–10; blood + line ¹

Example Sentences

The Kim family, who have ruled North Korea since 1948, tell citizens they hail from a sacred bloodline, meaning only they can lead the country.

From BBC

To white Americans with old money bloodlines, a family tree linked to the American Revolution era carries substantial weight.

From Salon

It all began with a clash of personalities and a bloodline feud inherited from their fathers' iconic duel in the 1990s.

From BBC

But the bloodline rivalry, doping scandal and egg slap all led to their sons, nobody else, standing face-to-face inside a boxing ring.

From BBC

He says he is "leaving no stone unturned" as he fights for the family name – and to prove his own worth - in this bloodline rivalry.

From BBC

Related Words

• genealogy 
• lineage 
• parentage 
• pedigree