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

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 same river that was savagely polluted by the mining industry, devastating the ancestral oasis of Quillagua. — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026

A lot of the emotions Cancer carries are often subconscious and ancestral, which is why this lunation can also be tied to the past. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Both sites are considered sacred by Native Americans, marked by cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and scenic canyons, as well as by burial sites and ancestral villages. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 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