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

The ancestral home of the Chumash, the Indigenous Native American people who have lived along California's central coast for more than 13,000 years, spans from Malibu to Paso Robles, including the Northern Channel Islands. — Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Furious at having been deceived her whole life, Kylie hops on the next plane to the Owens’ ancestral home in England with the intent of breaking the curse once and for all. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

The Pitt Rivers Museum is one of many museums, university collections, and private collections, throughout Europe and the United States, still in possession of Naga ancestral remains. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026

His mother is a Black American singer-songwriter, raised in Los Angeles with ancestral roots in Tennessee. — Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 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