ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈse-strəl 

: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor

ancestral estates

ancestrally

an-ˈse-strə-lē 

adverb

Examples of ancestral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Food emerged not simply as nourishment, but as a living archive of migration, ecology, memory and ancestral knowledge. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Now, the descendants of the Kuku Yalanji who lived there first are shaping how the world interacts with their ancestral homeland. — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026

Raccoons are indeed everywhere in Toronto, a by-product of urban sprawl, which has seen their ancestral ranges become absorbed in a blink of ecological time into human habitats. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

The family stayed at Althorp during their visit, the Spencer family’s 13,000-acre ancestral estate, where Diana grew up and is buried. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ancestral

• ancestral Pueblo
• ancestral Puebloan

Rhymes for ancestral

• orchestral
• kestrel

Kids Definition

ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈses-trəl 

: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor

ancestral home

ancestrally

-trə-lē 

adverb