Origin: Greek suffix -logy
Genealogy has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
successive generations of kin
"She spent her weekends tracing genealogy through old photos to map out every branch of her family tree."
the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
"After years of searching through old letters and census records, she finally pieced together her complete genealogy to discover her great-grandfather's true birthplace."
The descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; lineage or pedigree.
"My grandmother spent hours tracing our genealogy to discover where her great-grandparents were originally from."
In plain English: Genealogy is the study of your family history and who your ancestors are.
"The book traces the family genealogy back to the great-grandfather who first settled in the valley."
Usage: Genealogy refers to the study of family history and the tracing of one's ancestry through generations. Use this term when discussing how individuals or groups are connected to their past relatives rather than simply listing names without context.
The word "genealogy" traveled into English via the Old French term genealogie, which itself came from Late Latin. It is built on Ancient Greek roots meaning "the study of generations or descent."