ancestor

noun

an·​ces·​tor ˈan-ˌse-stər How to pronounce ancestor (audio)
 also  -sə-
1
a
: one from whom a person is descended and who is usually more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent
Her ancestors came to America in the 1880s.
2
: forerunner, prototype
an exhibit of the ancestors of the modern computer
3
: a progenitor (see progenitor sense 1b) of a more recent or existing species or group
the ancestor of the modern horse

Examples of ancestor in a Sentence

My ancestors came to America during the 1800s. Her ancestors were great sea captains. an ancient animal that was the ancestor of the modern horse The museum included an exhibit showing ancestors of the modern computer. several languages that are derived from a common ancestor Latin is the ancestor of Italian and French.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As Charles Handy explained in The Age of Paradox, modern life forces us to navigate complexities our ancestors never faced, such as the tension between efficiency and humanity or between individual freedom and collective responsibility. Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Throughout the middle passage, it has been said that our ancestors wove familiar items such as beads, shells, or even seeds and grains from home into their braids, to keep with them along their journeys. Essence, 19 June 2025 As a pack animal closely aligned with their wolf ancestor, the breed would use these noises to communicate with the rest of the pack and with humans, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 Devon’s ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. . . . Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ancestor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ancestre, from Anglo-French, from Latin antecessor predecessor, from antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancestor was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestor. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ancestor

noun
an·​ces·​tor ˈan-ˌses-tər How to pronounce ancestor (audio)
1
: one from whom an individual, group, or species is descended
2
: something from which something else has developed : forerunner
Etymology

Middle English ancestre "ancestor," from early French ancestre (same meaning), from Latin antecessor "one that goes before," derived from earlier antecedere "to go before," from ante- "before" and cedere "to go, yield" — related to concede, predecessor

Legal Definition

ancestor

noun
an·​ces·​tor
1
a
: a person from whom an individual is descended : ascendant
b
: a person from whom an estate descends compare heir
2
: one that precedes
ancestor in title

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