consanguinity

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'consanguinity' is a correct and usable term in written English.
It refers to the state of being related by blood or sharing a common ancestor. It is most commonly used in legal or formal contexts, such as discussing family relationships or inheritance. Example: The siblings had a strong bond due to their close consanguinity.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

And it encourages countries to set taxes at a level that will discourage smoking, and to pass laws holding the tobacco industry to account for medical and other costs.In this section Clipping the enemy's wings Killjoy woz here Consanguinity costs Reprints Related items SmokescreensMar 12th 1998That adds up to a lot of nannying.

The Economist

If both fail, there is no back-up.What has not been much investigated is whether consanguinity has more general consequences for an individual's health over its whole life.

The Economist

SOMETIMES the Israelis and Palestinians are best left alone to try to sort out their tragic consanguinity.

The Economist

The congenital costs of consanguinity have long been recognised, as has their cause: the increased risk that the offspring of an incestuous mating will get two copies of the same damaged gene, one from each parent.

The Economist

They then classified the animals' sicknesses into six categories, and checked to see which correlated with the degree of inbreeding.In this section Clipping the enemy's wings Killjoy woz here Consanguinity costs ReprintsSusceptibility to trauma ranging from propeller damage to gunshot wounds did not rise with inbreeding.

The Economist

As influential zoologists and anatomists rose to support Darwin, humanity's primate consanguinity began to be accepted, if not actually relished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He subsumed relations of consanguinity (blood ties) to those of affinity (marriage): whereas British structural functionalists saw descent ties based on filial relations within the group—as paramount in kinship, the relations between groups had priority in Lévi-Strauss's structuralist analysis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For this reason, consanguinity is often more common in the parents of those with rare, recessive inherited diseases.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, in cases of parental consanguinity, there is an increased risk of having a child with an autosomal recessive condition, because a common genetic background is shared.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lévi-Strauss stressed that the emphasis in structural analysis of kinship must be on human consciousness, not on objective ties of descent or consanguinity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And, even if blood is thicker, water has been a gratifying medium for consanguinity of another kind, with Bartley and Rob Williams.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific or academic writing, "consanguinity" is appropriate for describing genetic relationships or inbreeding.

Common error

Avoid using "consanguinity" when referring to relationships based on marriage (affinity) or adoption. "Consanguinity" specifically denotes blood relations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "consanguinity" is as a noun. It serves to identify and categorize the specific type of relationship between individuals who share a common ancestor. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it denotes a blood relation, which is supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Consanguinity" is a noun referring to the relationship between individuals descended from a common ancestor, signifying a blood relationship. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable term in English, typically employed in legal, formal, and scientific contexts. Its usage is widespread in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, as revealed by example analysis. While synonyms like "blood relation" and "family relationship" exist, "consanguinity" offers a specific and precise meaning, particularly relevant in discussions of genetics, inheritance, and legal matters. Remember to reserve it for contexts where blood relations are the focus and avoid using it when referring to relationships by marriage or adoption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blood relation

Focuses specifically on the genetic connection between individuals.

blood kinship

Emphasizes the familial tie established through shared blood.

family relationship

A broader term that includes relationships not necessarily based on blood.

genetic relatedness

Highlights the genetic aspect of the relationship, often used in scientific contexts.

ancestral connection

Focuses on the shared lineage and descent.

blood ties

A more informal term emphasizing the bond created by shared blood.

common ancestry

Highlights the shared origin or lineage of individuals.

kin relationship

A general term for any familial relationship, which may or may not involve blood.

familial connection

A general term for any family connection, regardless of whether it is by blood, marriage, or adoption.

biological relationship

Highlights the biological aspect of being related.

FAQs

What does "consanguinity" mean?

"Consanguinity" refers to the relationship between people who are descended from the same ancestor; it is a blood relationship.

How is "consanguinity" used in legal contexts?

In law, "consanguinity" is used to determine inheritance rights, restrictions on marriage, and other legal matters related to family relationships.

What are some synonyms for "consanguinity"?

Alternatives to "consanguinity" include "blood relation", "blood kinship", and "family relationship" depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it appropriate to use "consanguinity" in informal conversation?

While technically correct, "consanguinity" is a formal term. In informal contexts, it's generally better to use simpler terms like "blood ties" or "family connection".