adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈlɪni.əl/
UK:/ˈlɪniːəl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:L IH1 N IY0 AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Pertaining to lines; consisting of lines.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Relating to aspects of lineage, such as descent, succession, inheritance or consanguinity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
In the direction of a line; measured or ascertained by a line.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, uncommon
Examples
lineal magnitude
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: linear
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Line-drawn; composed of lines.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: art, arts
Examples
lineal designs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Sans serif.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: media, publishing, typography
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
lineal ancestors
lineal heirs
a direct descendant of the king
direct heredity
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: direct
Antonyms: collateral
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
arranged in a line
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Old French lineal, from Latin līneālis, from līnea (“a line”) + -ālis (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, line + -al. Doublet of linear.