consanguinity
2 synonyms for consanguinity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A blood relationship between people who share a common ancestor.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
blood relation
blood relationship
How to use consanguinity
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
degree of consanguinity
proof of consanguinity
laws of consanguinity
close consanguinity
It is a formal, mostly legal or genealogical word, rarely used in everyday conversation.
Etymology
Consanguinity entered English through Middle English and Middle French, both of which took it from the Latin word consanguinitas. That Latin word was built from com-, meaning together, and sanguineus, meaning of blood, itself from sanguis, meaning blood.
Full origin of consanguinity →Frequently asked questions
What does consanguinity mean?
It means being related to someone by blood, through shared ancestry, rather than by marriage.
Is consanguinity the same as being related by marriage?
No, consanguinity refers specifically to blood relationships; relation through marriage is a separate kind of connection.
Why is consanguinity mentioned in law?
Laws on marriage and inheritance often set limits based on how closely two people are related by blood, so consanguinity is used to describe and measure that closeness.
