Definition of Unilineal Descent
(noun) Tracing an individual’s descent either through the father (patrilineal) or mother (matrilineal), but never both.
Types of Unilineal Descent
Unilineal Descent Pronunciation
Syllabification: u·ni·lin·e·al de·scent
Audio Pronunciation
Usage Notes
- Plural: unilineal descents
- This is a simplified definition of a vast continuum of societal and cultural practices.
- In contrast to unilineal descent, nonunilineal descent (also called cognatic descent) traces descent through the father or mother.
- Variant spelling: uni-lineal descent
- Also called:
- unilateral descent
- unilineage
- unilineality
Additional Information
Related Terms
- clan
- descendant
- descent group
- endogamy
- exogamy
- generation
- extended family
- kinship
- lineage
- marriage
- phratry
Works Consulted
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Wikipedia contributors. (N.d.) Wiktionary, The Free Dictionary. Wikimedia Foundation. (http://en.wiktionary.org).
Cite the Definition of Unilineal Descent
ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “unilineal descent.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved September 30, 2023 (https://sociologydictionary.org/unilineal-descent/).
APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)
unilineal descent. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/unilineal-descent/
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “unilineal descent.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/unilineal-descent/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“unilineal descent.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 30 Sep. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/unilineal-descent/>.