Pedigree: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in the context of animals, especially purebred dogs, or in highly formal situations to describe someone's family history or background.

• The dog has an impressive pedigree, making it a favorite among breeders.
• The candidate's royal pedigree made him a natural choice for the leadership role.

Commonly used in more formal or academic contexts to trace family history over generations, often implying a direct line of descent.

• The royal lineage can be traced back to the 12th century.
• She discovered that her lineage included several famous historical figures.

Often used when talking about human family history or genetic background, especially in a scientific or personal context.

• She took a DNA test to learn more about her ancestry.
• His ancestry includes a mix of European and African roots.

Best used when referring to cultural, historical, or national background, often implying a sense of pride or significance.

• The festival celebrates the region's rich cultural heritage.
• He is very proud of his Native American heritage.

Use in formal contexts, often related to animals or thoroughbred breeding, and can also be used metaphorically to refer to a person's qualifications and background.

• The horse has an impeccable pedigree, making it a favorite in the race.
• Her academic pedigree includes degrees from Harvard and Oxford.

Commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts, especially in historical or genealogical studies, to refer to a graphical representation of family history and ancestry.

• The lineage chart traced eight generations of his family, dating back to medieval times.
• Historians created a lineage chart to map out the royal bloodlines in the region.

Commonly used in casual or personal contexts to describe a diagram showing the relationships between people in several generations of a family.

• We spent the weekend building our family tree and discovering our ancestors.
• His family tree revealed a rich history of European descent.

Typically used in formal or research contexts to refer to documented evidence used to track family lineage, often for historical or legal purposes.

• The genealogy record showed that his ancestors immigrated to America in the 1800s.
• Researchers combed through the genealogy records to establish the family’s noble lineage.