the kinship relation between an individual and the individual's progenitors
"The royal lineage traced back to a king who had reigned three centuries prior."
inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline
"The scientist's groundbreaking research revealed a rare genetic lineage that explained why his family members all had naturally curly hair."
Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage.
"The royal family traced their lineage back to the first king who unified the kingdom centuries ago."
In plain English: Lineage is your family history showing who you are descended from.
"Her impressive lineage comes from a long history of successful artists in her family."
Usage: Use "lineage" to refer specifically to ancestry or family history, whereas "descent" can also denote the physical act of going down or inheriting something non-biological. Avoid using it as a verb; instead, use phrases like "descend from" when indicating origin.
The word lineage comes from the Old French linage, which was derived from the Latin linea meaning "thread" or "string." It entered English via Middle English with this same sense of a connecting thread, eventually coming to describe an unbroken line of descent.