matrilineal

American  

[ma-truh-lin-ee-uhl, mey-] / ˌmæ trəˈlɪn i əl, ˌmeɪ- /

Also matrilinear

adjective

1. inheriting or determining descent through the female line.

---

matrilineal British  

/ ˌmeɪ-, ˌmætrɪˈlɪnɪəl /

adjective

1. relating to descent or kinship through the female line

---

matrilineal Cultural  

1. Tracing kinship and descent through the female line. (Compare patrilineal.)

---

Other Word Forms

• matrilineally adverb
• matrilinearly adverb

Etymology

Origin of matrilineal

First recorded in 1900–05; matri- + lineal

Compare meaning

How does matrilineal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• matrilineal vs. patrilineal

Example Sentences

"I also come from a matrilineal tribe, similar to Kerala, and my feminism informed my approach to the role."

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Knowles debunks her reputation as a stage mom, though she carried on her matrilineal penchant for designing and sewing clothes, as the stylist for Destiny’s Child.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

It is an amazing story that was too big for the film, of firsthand knowledge that has been passed down in a matrilineal way.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025

Females are in charge, and rank means everything—a matrilineal system that has fueled the spotted hyena’s rise as the most abundant large carnivore in Africa.

From National Geographic • Feb. 8, 2024

I'm not even Jewish, technically, because Judaism is matrilineal, and my mom's Episcopalian.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli