ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌse-strē 

1

: line of descent : lineage

especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent

2

: persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors

Synonyms of ancestry

• lineage
• genealogy
• origin
• pedigree
• descent
• family
• breeding

Examples of ancestry in a Sentence

They claim to be of noble ancestry.

a person of unknown ancestry

She claims to be able to trace her ancestry all the way back to the earliest settlers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The nomadic ancestry of the Plains Tribes carries on today through powwows. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

As of 2023, census estimates put the Chicago-area Polish ancestry population north of 720,000, the highest concentration of any metropolitan region in the country. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 15 July 2026

The complaints center around the Fair Employment and Housing Act, a state law that prohibits landlords from discriminating against potential tenants based on things like race, gender, ancestry and citizenship. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Other leads in the film include Matt Damon and Tom Holland, who have no Greek ancestry. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌses-trē 

1

: line of descent

2

: one's ancestors