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

When the government expanded the park in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hundreds of villagers—including Mgesi's family—were forcibly evicted from their ancestral lands. — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Although Edo will one day inherit his family’s ancestral seat, the Villa Mapelli Mozzi palace, his family’s titles don’t carry any legal status or come with a position in government. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians count the site among their ancestral homelands. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

In 1508, the family purchased the Althorp estate in West Northamptonshire, England, around two and a half hours’ drive north of London, where their ancestral seat remains to this day. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 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