ancestral
adjective
an·ces·tral
an-ˈse-strəl 
: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor
ancestral estates
Examples of ancestral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In one, second-generation immigrant Gloria (Katy Correa) returns to her father’s home village in rural Guinea-Bissau for a traditional memorial ritual to mark the old man’s recent passing, and to introduce her twentysomething daughter Nour (D’Johé Kouadio) to her ancestral motherland.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The sale is one of the largest examples of a growing trend in California in which environmental groups and state agencies are helping tribes acquire ancestral lands, often centuries after they were forcibly removed.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Drawing on textile traditions rooted in women’s domestic and communal practices, the works approach stitching, weaving and dyeing as forms of mark making; methods of carrying ancestral stories across borders and generations.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Yet long before Latin America’s cultural preponderance led global headlines, Mexico was already a must-visit destination for those seeking ancestral cuisine, artistic heritage, and centuries-old traditions.
—Atenea Morales De La Cruz, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The sale is one of the largest examples of a growing trend in California in which environmental groups and state agencies are helping tribes acquire ancestral lands, often centuries after they were forcibly removed.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Drawing on textile traditions rooted in women’s domestic and communal practices, the works approach stitching, weaving and dyeing as forms of mark making; methods of carrying ancestral stories across borders and generations.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Yet long before Latin America’s cultural preponderance led global headlines, Mexico was already a must-visit destination for those seeking ancestral cuisine, artistic heritage, and centuries-old traditions.
—Atenea Morales De La Cruz, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestral
Cite this Entry
“Ancestral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestral. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestral
adjective
an·ces·tral
an-ˈses-trəl
: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor
ancestral home
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