consanguineous

[ kon-sang-gwin-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. having the same ancestry or descent; related by blood.

Other Words From

• consan·guine·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of consanguineous¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin consanguineus “related by blood, kindred; blood relation, kinsman,” equivalent to con- + sanguin- (stem of sanguis) “blood” + -eus adjective suffix. Consanguineous first occurs in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (1602), and Shakespeare may have introduced the word into English. See con-, -eous

Example Sentences

Several children were the result of consanguineous marriages, in which the parents are related.

From Science Daily

In the 2000s, papers on the genetics of Roma people still referred to the group with the outdated term “Gypsy,” which is considered a slur, or with pejorative terms such as “inbred” or “consanguineous.”

From New York Times

“Also, consanguineous marriages – first cousin to first cousin – have been reported to increase the incidence to as high as three percent, so we see more congenital heart disease in the Middle East North Africa countries.”

From Fox News

When the child of a consanguineous union develops a recessive disease, the responsible mutation usually lies within a larger identical block of DNA inherited from both parents.

From Science Magazine

“Ninety percent of the cases I see are caused by consanguineous marriages,” says Ms Zaki.

From Economist