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

Less than an hour down the road is a national monument that protects the land and homes of the ancestral Puebloans. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Moving from her childhood home to her family’s ancestral one was quite a shift for teenage Diana. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 July 2026

The bell’s pyramidal face is decorated with depictions of deceased kings and queens, and its toll was believed to invoke ancestral spirits. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026

Ireland recognizes its diaspora with one of the best ancestral citizenship programs around. — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 8 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