descent group

Definition of Descent Group

(noun) A group in which all members share a common ancestor.

Examples of Descent Group

• clan
• Matrilineal descent, the descent group derives from a common female ancestor.
• moiety
• phratry

Descent Group Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: de·scent group

Audio Pronunciation

International Phonetic Alphabet

• American English – /dɪˈsɛnt grup/
• British English – /dɪˈsɛnt gruːp/

Usage Note

• Plural: descent groups

Additional Information

• Family and Kinship Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
• Word origin of “descent” and “group” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com

Related Terms

• clan
• descendant
• endogamy
• exogamy
• generation
• kinship
• lineage
• marriage
• matrilineal descent
• nonunilineal descent
• unilineal descent

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Cite the Definition of Descent Group

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “descent group.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 23, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/descent-group/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

descent group. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/descent-group/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “descent group.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/descent-group/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“descent group.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/descent-group/>.