A person is said to be an 'agnate' of another if the two are related by blood or adoption wholly through males. The expression "related" mean related by legitimate kinship. 'Agnate' is defined under section 3(1) (a) of The Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

Both male and female relatives by blood or adoption having legitimate kinship with the intestate are included among his agnates, provided the relationship is wholly through males. For example, a father's bother's daughter is an agnate. But father's sister's son is not an agnate because he is not related to the intestate wholly through males.

The definition of agnates does not extend to relatives by marriage but is confined to relatives by blood or adoption. Thus 'Agnate' does not include widows of lineal descendants of the intestate.